Samson Sky CEO Sam Bousfield, the designer of the Switchblade flying sports car, was a featured panelist at the 19th annual held at the University of Wisconsin in Oshkosh. The Electric Aircraft Symposium (EAS) is the world’s longest-running electric aviation technology event, focusing on technological advancements in the future of air mobility.

This two-day event included panelists from leading electric aircraft developers and technology experts, known for their technical depth. Participants engaged in conversations on the safe and sustainable development of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM).

Contributions to regional travel

Bousfield discussed how the Switchblade is contributing to the future of regional travel (for trips of 250 to 500 miles), noting that “Statistics show there are 21 million Regional Travelers in the U.S. alone.” He highlighted several advantages of the Switchblade for regional travelers seeking alternatives to traditional airline travel:

• The Switchblade is a highway-capable vehicle, offering high performance both on the ground and in the air.
• The wings, tail, and propellers are fully enclosed in driving mode, making the Switchblade insurable.
• It requires no new technology advancements to go into production; the first of three production test vehicles is currently being built.
• It is reasonably priced.

Symposium highlights

The symposium featured over 40 panelists, including visionaries from Joby Aviation, Wisk Aero, and Bye Aerospace. The event provided 150 attendees with valuable in-depth insights into this cutting-edge aviation sector.

Bousfield expressed his honor at being included among the world’s leaders in AAM and being the only company present with a highway-capable aircraft that both drives and flies. He emphasized the importance of collaboration and learning from each other to make their products more relevant and useful.

Panel on regional air mobility

Bousfield served on a panel of three focusing on Regional Air Mobility, moderated by Andy Mearns of Multicopter Aerospace Consulting. He was joined by panelists David Copeland of Bristell Aircraft and Drew McEwen of AURA AERO.

Future of advanced air mobility

AAM is expected to advance rapidly in the coming years, driven by regulatory frameworks recently approved by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and President Trump’s Executive Order supporting flying cars. The Switchblade Flying Sports Car is a highway-capable, hybrid-electric vehicle that offers high performance both on the road and in the air.

Customers can park the Switchblade in their garage, drive it to a nearby airport using highways and local roads, and with the push of a button, prepare it for takeoff. It accommodates two passengers and travel bags and can fly up to 450 miles on a tank of premium auto gas, with an estimated cruise speed of 160 mph.

For more information about the Switchblade and to follow its progress into production, visit Samson Sky.