This amazing flying sports car can be yours for just $160k

Speaking to Simply Flying, Bousfield expressed his excitement, saying “Today is the culmination of many years of hard work and persistence to make the vision of a flying sports car a reality. Someone asked me how it felt to see the Switchblade fly. I thought about it, and realized that this is what it feels like when your dreams come true.”

From road to sky

Designed to revolutionize travel, the Switchblade promises to turn 10-hour road trips into a mere three-and-a-half-hour journey from door to door. 

Priced at an estimated $170,000, the Switchblade has already amassed an impressive 2,300 reservations from 57 countries. The Switchblade operates as a street-legal three-wheeler, categorized as a motorcycle in many jurisdictions, simplifying the accreditation process. 

Owners will have the flexibility to drive the vehicle on the road or in flight mode, and the company envisions owners driving the car from their houses to the airport, switching into flight mode, and taking off. 

While the car can accelerate to a top speed exceeding 125 mph (200 km/h), thanks to its unique three-wheel design, in flight mode, the Switchblade can achieve speeds of up to 200 mph (322 km/h) and reach altitudes of up to 13,000 feet.

However, it takes around three minutes to switch from car mode to plane, with the tail having to extend and unfurl, and the wings having to lock into place.

The Switchblade is powered by a hybrid power system that runs on regular 91-octane pump gas, delivering an impressive 500 miles (805 km) of range from a full 36-gallon (125 L) fuel tank. 

Challenges and triumphs on the horizon

While the Switchblade has conquered its first flight, the road to production still lies ahead. 

Samson Sky aims to utilize the data mined during the flight test to finalize production engineering and build several prototypes. As with any groundbreaking innovation, challenges in mass production loom large, but the company remains optimistic about meeting the enthusiastic demand for the Switchblade.

Owners will play an active role in constructing their Switchblade, as it falls under the category of an experimental/ home-built aircraft. However, Samson Sky plans to streamline the process with a Builder Assist Center, allowing owners to complete more than half of the assembly in just a week, under expert guidance.