The flying car is real!
This page is translated from the original post "La voiture volante, c’est du concret !" in French.
- 17/01/2023 9:00
Presented at CES Las Vegas 2023, the Aska A5 is now available for pre-order. The ideal flying car to soar above traffic jams?
Who has never dreamed of driving a car capable of taking off during a traffic jam? This dream is about to become reality, thanks to the company Aska founded in 2018. The American startup, based in Los Altos, California, is very advanced in this field.
In 2020, Aska signed a space law agreement with NASA for a period of five years to advance the field of aerial mobility.
If everything goes smoothly, the Aska A5 would be the first viable electric vehicle with vertical takeoff and landing capabilities (eVTOL), “where you can drive on the road like a car and take off vertically to fly through the air like an airplane.”
Visually closer to a helicopter than a car, it consists of four wheel motors to optimize the interior space of the craft. Positioned outside the fuselage, the driving wheels also ensure better aerodynamics for the prototype, which should offer an elevated driving position, similar to what customers seek in an SUV.
Interesting Performance
The cockpit or cabin (depending on the terminology) could seat up to 4 people and would feature an electric system with extended range (electric batteries with lithium-ion technology and a thermal engine). According to Aska, the range could reach 400 km and the top speed would be 240 km/h. In cruising mode, the Aska A5 is expected to operate at 112 km/h.
Thus, powered by its motors and thanks to its retractable rotors, the craft could initially drive on local roads and fly on a traditional aerial route. According to Aska, the A5 could be parked in a regular parking lot and recharged either at home via a Wallbox or at electric vehicle charging stations. The range extender engine is completely conventional, as it could be refueled at a standard gas station.
The Aska A5 can be ordered via this link: Pre-order Aska A5 at a price of $789,000 USD, approximately €730,000. First deliveries are expected around 2026.
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