Indeed, more and more flying cars are being designed around the world. Some models already have waiting lists.
In 2019, the American startup Next Future Mobility (NFT) announced the imminent creation of the flying car ASKA. Since then, orders from eager customers have kept coming. Potential buyers are intrigued by the six-propeller winged design. The car’s rotors and wings can fold together when needed, like those of an insect. This means drivers can choose whether to travel on land or in the air. However, a pilot’s license is required to operate the vehicle.
Recently, prospective driver-pilots got a closer look at the concept. The flying-and-driving car debuted at CES 2023 after numerous tests.
The full launch of the ASKA car (which means “bird that flies” in Japanese) is set to take place in 2026, the publication Designboom reported.
What attracts driver-pilots to near-future cars?
The four-seat ASKA model can move on the road like a car or fly like a helicopter or an airplane: the vehicle has vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities. The aerodynamic design gives it stable, efficient handling on the road and in the air, the developers say.
A single full charge of the electric system provides a flight range of up to 402 kilometers. Moreover, the electric architecture of the model allows for the use of another energy source, such as hydrogen.
ASKA can land anywhere: on a home lawn, a street, or a parking lot. The car can easily be switched to flight mode and take off vertically from a designated area. When the wings unfold, it transitions to smooth flight in a programmed direction. After a vertical landing, the driver-pilot can either drive away like in a regular car or leave the vehicle parked.
Guy Kaplinsky, the executive director of NFT, says the developers of ASKA have focused heavily on safety. He says that safety comes from large wings and propellers, six battery packs, and the option to use different energy sources — measures the company says will improve safety in both the air and on the ground. NFT hopes that flying cars will eventually be available to the general public.
The founders plan to both sell ASKA cars and rent out some of the production. The first vehicles are expected to fly — no longer as experimental prototypes — in 2026.
The team says integrating this model into daily life will be another step toward rethinking quality of life in the 21st century.
“To build the best society and the best economy, we need the best transportation solutions, and flying cars will be part of that equation,” said Guy Kaplinsky.
