The Samson Switchblade flying car has taken off

It took 14 years for this completely crazy project to spread its wings, but the Samson Switchblade is flying!

One year after obtaining its certification and flight authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration, the American aviation regulatory agency, and 14 years after its first announcement, the Samson Sky Switchblade has officially taken off. This road-legal three-wheeler transforms into a plane at 200 mph (320 km/h) with the simple press of a button.

This milestone took place at Grant County International Airport in Moses Lake, Washington State. The Switchblade took off to reach an altitude of 500 feet (150 m), made a turn, and landed approximately six minutes later.

Samson has already received 2,300 reservations for the Switchblade from 57 different countries, at an estimated price of 170,000 US dollars. This highlights that there is certainly a market for a road-worthy aircraft. The cleverness of this project lies in the vehicle’s three-wheel design, which is considered a motorized tricycle in many jurisdictions. The certification criteria are therefore much less restrictive than those for a car, significantly simplifying the road approval process.

When it comes to three wheels, instability is a concern, and the forecast of a top speed on the road of 200 km/h with its wings and tail folded is probably very optimistic. In airplane mode, the hybrid craft will likely meet its specifications with a speed of 200 mph (322 km/h) and 13,000 feet (400 m) altitude. The 125-liter gasoline tank will provide up to 500 miles (805 km) of range.

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