-
Flying cars could finally be on the horizon
-
Aska, a startup based in California, is working on an electric plane that can drive on US roads.
-
The Aska A5 is scheduled to land in 2026 with a price tag of close to $800,000.
Flying cars It may be closer to reality than you think.
A startup based in Northern California Aska It is finally trying to deliver what humans have been dreaming of for decades: a car that can drive on the road and then, at the push of a button, take off into the sky, in “Back to the Future” style.
Here’s what it was like Ride in the first Aska prototype – And what the future might hold if the startup takes off.
Meet the Aska A5, an exotic hybrid of helicopters and cars that could make your flying car dream come true.
The world has been collectively obsessed with the idea of cars that can drive and fly for decades, but it hasn’t really really taken off yet. Asuka wants to change that.
The California-based startup has been developing its flying car since 2018.
It recently finished its prototype (pictured here), which I got to ride and see for myself. My test flight lasted about 10 minutes, and we stuck to the ground.
Its prototype recently received approval for flight testing by the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Aska has done some flying so far.
It is the second flying car startup to receive Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification this year, following that A to fly.
The company wants to revolutionize mobility and help customers live away from their desks in expensive cities like San Francisco, Aska CEO and co-founder Guy Kaplinsky told me during my test trip.
Aska says the A5 will be able to cruise at 150 mph and travel 250 miles between fueling stops. It is powered by electric motors and an extended range gas generator.
The A5 will be able to take off and land vertically, like a drone or helicopter, as well as horizontally, like a regular plane.
Its rear wing and propellers can rotate 90 degrees to switch between forward flight or vertical landing. Other companies are working on electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicles (commonly called EVTOLs). Vertical take-off and landing aircraft), but those Flying taxis He can’t drive on the ground
For on-road driving, the A5’s wings fold inward, creating a more compact and road-worthy package.
But you should think of it as a plane that can drive, not a car that can fly. Aska is looking to get the A5 approved for domestic roads with slower speed limits at first.
Aska doesn’t want to replace your car. It just imagines customers driving 10 miles or less between their home or workplace and their take-off location.
Still, it wants the A5 to be at least somewhat comfortable on the road. The prototype is roughly the size of a massive Ford F-350 pickup truck, but the Aska is targeting a more modest footprint F-150 for the final product. This should make it easier to park the car.
The prototype I saw was just pretty bare bones.
The cockpit was rough and the doors barely closed. But that’s expected for such an early iteration.
It had small screens in place of side mirrors, six-point belts, and all sorts of screens.
The final version will seat four and feature a more refined, screen-heavy interior.
But Aska says the production car won’t be as luxurious as a sedan A luxury car like a Rolls Royce. Luxury is heavy, weight is the enemy of flying.
The Aska A5 can be yours for $789,000 to start. The company says it is on track to begin deliveries in 2026.
If that’s a bit pricey for you, Aska also plans to provide an affordable car-sharing service.
Read the original article at Business interested
