ASKA became the first flying car in the world allowed to drive on ordinary roads
The ASKA A5 is the world's first flying car to receive a road traffic permit from the US Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
So far, the aircraft has successfully completed road tests around Silicon Valley with a DMV license plate.
In June 2023, ASKA announced that the A5 had received an authorization certificate and a special airworthiness certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration.
The four-seat A5 is about the size of an SUV with wings folded, so it can drive under normal traffic conditions and share the road with other vehicles.
On the ground, the A5 is powered by four electric motors built into the wheels. They are able to accelerate the car to 105 kilometers per hour in less than five seconds. Wheel acceleration also helps shorten the takeoff roll.
For flight, the A5 is equipped with two folding wings. While driving on the road, they are folded on the roof of the vehicle, and automatically unfold before the flight. They are equipped with six electric motors with two-blade propellers. Two of the four engines mounted on the rear wing can turn to provide thrust in level flight. A flying car can take off vertically from a standstill or take off like an airplane with a short takeoff. In flight, it develops a speed of up to 240 kilometers per hour.
In addition to the main lithium-ion batteries, a backup gasoline generator is also installed on board. According to the developers, turning on the generator helps increase the flight time by 30 minutes. As a result, the maximum flight range is 402 kilometers. In addition to the backup motor, for safety reasons, the flying car is equipped with an emergency parachute. The ASKA project was launched in 2018 and began accepting pre-orders in 2021.
The company has already received $50 million in pre-orders.
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