The Silicon Valley air mobility company ASKA announced that a full-scale prototype of the ASKA™ A5 flying car successfully completed its first airborne tests, lifting from a California airfield with hovered thrust while the vehicle was tethered to the ground.
ASKA reports the four-seater ASKA™ A5 is the size of an SUV in the drive mode, and is a flying car that can travel by road and air with vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities. The drive & fly eVTOL the company says is designed with maximum safety standards and a 250 mile flight range. On June 30th, 2023 the company reported that the A5 had achieved Certificate of Authorization (COA) and Special Airworthiness Certification by the FAA.
According to the press release “ASKA™ A5 received authorisation to drive on public roads from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and that the company has successfully conducted more than 300 miles of road testing with the ASKA™ A5 around Silicon Valley.
“ASKA™ A5 is not only capable of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) from a helipad or vertiport, the vehicle can also perform an energy-efficient short takeoff and landing (STOL) from the runway using the in-wheel motors, thrust from the props and aerodynamic wings.
“ASKA™ A5 makes the maximum use of existing infrastructure, such as parking, charging stations, airfields, helipads and runways, for a seamless integration into city and suburban landscapes. The vehicle fits in standard parking spaces, it can be charged at home and EV charging stations, and the range extender engine runs on premium gasoline purchased at existing automotive gas stations.”
Pre-order reservations launched in 2021 and the company reports it has secured USD50 million in pre-orders.
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(Image: ASKA)