The $789,000 flying vehicle of this business is prepared for takeoff.
Since flying cars have been a part of people’s imagination for so long, it’s almost hard to believe they’re not just figments of the imagination. However, the $789,000 flying car from startup Aska is getting ready to take off. In point of fact, you can get on the preorder list by making a $5,000 deposit. CNET anticipates a future flight demonstration at CES 2023, where the Aska A5 made its debut.)
How soon will it be? After the car was unveiled on Thursday, Aska cofounder and CEO Guy Kaplinsky stated that the approval from the Federal Aviation Administration might arrive “within a month.” In 2026, Aska intends to launch its ride-hailing service.
(For additional information, see our must-see CES reveals, most futuristic technology, and weirdest futuristic gadgets.)
The four-seat prototype in Las Vegas is powered by electric batteries and backed up by a small gas engine. It is about the size of a large SUV but has large wings with propellers like a helicopter on top. For a vertical takeoff or landing, it requires an area roughly the size of a helipad and fits in a standard parking space. It can be charged at home or at conventional EV charging stations, and the premium-grade gasoline that powers its gas engine gives it an additional 50 miles of range.
Aska unveiled its first flying car prototype in 2019, began taking preorders in 2021, and anticipates shipping the first aircraft in 2026. Despite the formidable engineering and regulatory obstacles, flying cars sound exciting. When compared to roads-only automobiles and sky-only aircraft, a flying car like the Aska A5 or the $300,000 Alef Model A from Alef Aeronautics faces significant compromises.
However, who wouldn’t want to avoid the traffic? On a single charge, the Aska A5 can travel 250 miles at a maximum speed of 150 mph. That could reduce a drive of 100 miles to 30 minutes.
According to Aska’s Kaplinsky, the A5 flying car will help people tackle long commutes, enable them to relocate to more affordable areas further away from big cities, and reduce the number of regular cars they own. He also stated that the majority of people will probably use them through a ride-sharing service when they are in need of one.
Kaplinsky stated, “This is going to affect society and generations to come.” It takes time for our generation to adjust, but for our children, this will be normal. That is our goal. We want to improve their standard of living.”
Even though the Aska A5 flying vehicles will initially require pilots, Kaplinsky predicted that by 2030, they will be completely autonomous and will communicate with one another to avoid collisions in the air. He stated that until that occurs, air traffic controllers will monitor flying cars similarly to small planes.
According to Kaplinsky, Aska’s Mountain View, California, factory can produce one or two of them per month. But don’t rush out and buy that country house right now. Before Aska can really take off, it still needs approval from the FAA and other agencies to make the flying car flight- and street-legal.