This flying car has just been given the green light to take to the skies.
California start-up Aska just announced that its A5 flying car was granted official approval by the U.S Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which is a pretty big deal.
First revealed in January this year, the Aska A5 looks like something out of a sci-fi movie when it rolls up alongside a normal car.
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The flying car is roughly the size of a big SUV with massive wings and propellers that protrude out the side.
First unveiled at the CES tech convention this year in January, the A5 has been in the works for the past five years.
The first working prototype was finished in December 2022 and is now undergoing flight testing around its home city of Palo Alto in California.
So how exactly does this flying car work?
It has six independent motors that control the it in the air.
These motors allow it to get up to an airspeed of 150 mph – roughly equivalent to 250 km/h.
The A5 flying car has a hybrid energy system, powered by electric batteries and backstopped by a gas engine.
With this, the Aska A5 has a pretty impressive flight range of 150 miles.
The creators of the Aska A5 said they created it to be totally independent, and not reliant on commercial airports.
It can take off and land vertically, meaning it doesn’t need a runway.
It can also be charged at charging stations designed for everyday electric cars.
Its creators Guy Kaplinsky and Maki Kaplinsky plan to have the A5 flying car available to purchase by 2026.
And there’s huge interest in it too.
The company says it already has $50 million in pre-orders.
The A5 flying car does have serious competition though.
The Alef Model A was also just granted a Special Airworthiness Certification from the FAA.
Until now, it was the first time a vehicle of its nature received official certification to take to the skies.
So, now the race is on to see which one makes it across the finish line first.
