Up, Up, and Away… Alef Model A Takes To The Sky
Image Credit: Alef Aeronautics.
Let's talk about flying cars. Remember when we were kids, gazing at the Jetsons and thinking, "Yeah, that'll be a thing soon"? Well, apparently, "soon" is now, or at least that's what Alef Aeronautics wants us to believe. They've released a video of their Model A – or what they're calling an "ultralight version" – doing its thing: driving and then, wait for it, hopping over another car before taking flight. A hop! Like a caffeinated frog. With wings.
I've seen a lot in my time covering the automotive, aero, and maritime worlds. I've witnessed the rise and fall of countless automotive "innovations," some brilliant, some utterly bonkers. So, forgive me if I'm not exactly throwing confetti just yet. This whole flying car business strikes me as a bit… premature. But I'm always open to being proven wrong. And if this thing actually works, I'll happily eat my hat. A small, easily digestible hat.
Image Credit: Alef Aeronautics.
Alef's been tinkering with these flying contraptions for about a decade, apparently. They even got a pat on the back – and a few million bucks – from Tim Draper, that venture capitalist who seems to have a nose for the next big thing, or at least the next big hyped thing. They unveiled a prototype of the Model A in 2022, boasting a 220-mile driving range and a 110-mile flight range. Which, let's be honest, sounds about as plausible as a politician's promise.
And they've got some serious "firsts" under their belt, they tell us. First flying car to get a Special Airworthiness Certification from the FAA. First company to sell a flying car through a dealership. First public video of a car driving and hopping and then taking off vertically on a city street. The road was blocked off, mind you. Can't have any pesky pedestrians getting squashed by a flying car that's still figuring out how to, you know, fly.
Image Credit: Alef Aeronautics.
The video itself is… well, it looks like something from a sci-fi movie. I suppose that's the point. But it also looks a little… dodgy. Like maybe they used some clever CGI trickery. I'm not saying they did. But I'm also not "not saying" it. They did release another video of it driving off-road, which is supposed to prove it can handle itself like a "typical" car. Except, of course, this isn't a typical car.
The thing that strikes me is its skinny, bicycle-like wheels. And the way it bounces on the uneven road suggests two things - it's super light, and it has no suspension. The Model A in the video appears to be remotely controlled, with the passenger cabin fully blacked out. Nothing in this video is what it seems, hence my skepticism meter ringing alarm bells.
Image Credit: Alef Aeronautics.
Alef claims this thing is "100% electric, drivable on public roads, and has vertical takeoff and landing capabilities." They've even got deals with some big-name aviation parts suppliers. Which is somewhat reassuring, I guess. Unless those suppliers also make parts for those self-folding laundry hampers that never quite work right.
On the bright side of things, Alef has over 3,300 pre-orders. People are actually putting down money – $150 for a regular pre-order, $1,500 for the VIP treatment – for a flying car that may or may not ever actually fly. That's just like buying a lottery ticket, which requires you to build a lottery machine before you can win anything. Madness.
Image Credit: Alef Aeronautics.
The production is apparently starting later this year, with deliveries to follow. And they're already working on their second flying car, the Model Z, which is supposed to launch in 2035 for around $35,000. That's ten years away! These guys are really brave, I wonder when they will start taking deposits for this one? Anyway, at that point, the Model Z will probably be cheaper than a used Toyota.
Look, I'm not a hater. I love the idea of flying cars. Who wouldn't? But I'm also a realist. And right now, this whole thing feels like a giant leap of faith. A leap of faith that could end with a very expensive, very crumpled heap of metal. But maybe I'm wrong. Maybe this is the future of transportation. I worry that in a few year's time, we'll all still be stuck in traffic, staring up at the sky, wondering why we ever thought this was a good idea.
