The Switchblade, the world’s first flying sports car, has finally been given the go-ahead to start flight tests after 14 years of work on it.
The test plane was made by Samson Sky. It can fly up to 200 miles per hour (322 km/h) and is meant to be put together from a do-it-yourself kit.
It is 16.8 feet (5.1 meters) long and 6 feet (1.8 meters) wide when it is on the ground, which is small enough to fit in a garage on three wheels.
But once it got to the airport, the “hybrid” car was able to take off as soon as its wings flapped and tail stretched out.
The US government’s flight service, the Federal flight Administration (FAA), gave the Switchblade the go-ahead last month to start testing.
“It is expected to have a takeoff speed of 88 mph,” said Sam Busfield, CEO of Samson Sky and developer of the Switchblade. “That is the speed we need to hit, and then the Switchblade will start taking off. It is one of the ten fastest speeds.” The Switchblade handled and worked very well, as shown by the team’s video, instrumentation, and engine computer data. Our test driver pushed it to 98 mph, which confirmed what they had seen.
The Switchblade can now be put through a number of tests, ranging from taxi tests at high speeds to flight tests.
The company based in Oregon says that 2,100 people from 52 countries and all 50 US states have already placed orders for the car’s kit when it is finally sold.
To drive the Switchblade on the road, you will need a driver’s license. To fly it, you will need a pilot’s license.
It will cost around £145,000 (about $170,000) for each Switchblade kit, which comes with the engine, transmission, electronics, interior, and access to Samson Builder Assist.
The second one lets the builder get help with construction at the Samson Builder Assist Center, but it can take up to a week.
The Switchblade can go over 125 mph (201 km/h), and Samson Sky says it “tackles twisty turns with ease like a high-performance sports car.”
It can fly up to 200 miles per hour (305 km/h) at its highest point, which is 13,000 feet (4 km) above the ground.
The 113-liter fuel tank also lets it go 724 km without stopping to refuel.
Once it lands, it can quickly go back to driving position with its wings and tail safely pulled back until the pilot gets it to its final destination.
Aside from the Switchblade, Samson Sky is also working on the Snowbird, which is made for colder areas, the Trek, which is made for hard landings, and the Aurora, which is a mix of the Snowbird and the Trek.
