Samson Sky’s ‘Switchblade,’ a street-legal “flying sports car” that has been officially registered as a motorcycle and is estimated to have a price tag of $170,000, has completed its first successful flight at the Grant County International Airport in Moses Lake, Washington.
The test flight took place at an airport that is used Boeing and other aircraft manufacturers to perform flight tests. The “flying sports car” flew to a height of 500 feet, circled for approximately six minutes, and then landed safely.
The CEO of Samson Sky, Sam Bousfield, expressed pride in the achievement, stating that it puts the company on a path towards producing thousands of Switchblades to meet the high demand they are receiving.
The flying sports car ‘Switchblade’ was flown veteran test pilot Robert Moehle, who described the flying car as “handled great.” The vehicle is intended to be sold as an experimental, homebuilt, do-it-yourself aircraft, and it will require consumers to build more than half of the vehicle themselves.
To assist with the assembly process, Samson will provide a Builder Assist Center where users can complete the task in a week. The flying car will utilize a hybrid electric system, allowing it to be refueled at any gas station using unleaded auto gasoline instead of leaded aviation fuel.
In addition, the flying car is designed to be capable of both right- or left-hand driving, with the engine driving the wheels on the ground and the propeller when flown. It will require approximately 100 feet of clear tarmac for takeoff and can be parked in a regular garage.
According to reports, Samson Sky will be able to construct several prototypes of the Switchblade, and it can travel at speeds of about 125 miles per hour and fly at up to 13,000 feet. The production process is expected to be complex, and there is no confirmed timeline for when the flying sports car will reach its production phase.
The ‘Switchblade’, also known as “the flying sports car,” is intended to reduce lengthy road trips up to ten hours into three and a half hours from door to door. It is reported to be one of the most sought-after flying cars in the world, with approximately 2,300 reservations already made in 57 countries.
A video of the first test flight for Samson Sky’s ‘Switchblade’ was published on YouTube to showcase the achievement.
In summary, the “flying sports car” is a major breakthrough in aviation technology and it has the potential to revolutionize personal transportation on a global scale. Its successful flight marks an important milestone in the development of this innovative and ambitious project.