Samson’s Flying Car Gains Altitude

14 years after initiating this daring project, Samson has successfully flown his Switchblade. A video recap of this achievement.

A three-wheeled vehicle approved for the road transforming into a plane capable of flying at 200 mph (322 km/h) with the push of a button, the Samson Switchblade has reached a new milestone. One year after receiving its certification and flight authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration, the American aviation regulatory body, and 14 years after its first announcement, the Switchblade has officially taken off.

This historic first took place at Grant County International Airport in Moses Lake, Washington. The Switchblade took off to reach an altitude of 500 feet (150 m), turned around, and landed approximately six minutes later.

Samson has already booked 2,300 reservations for the Switchblade from 57 different countries, at an estimated price of $170,000 USD. This highlights that there is certainly a market for a roadworthy aircraft. The clever aspect of this project lies in its three-wheel design, which is considered a motorized tricycle in many jurisdictions. The certification criteria are much less restrictive than for a car, significantly simplifying the process of road approval.

Having three wheels means instability, and the projected top speed on the road of 200 km/h with its wings and tail folded is likely very optimistic. In airplane mode, however, the hybrid craft will probably be able to meet its specifications with a speed of 200 mph (322 km/h) and an altitude of 13,000 feet (4,000 m). The 125-liter commercial fuel tank will provide up to 500 miles (805 km) of autonomy.

READ ALSO: AutoFlight takes flight with Falcon