Switchblade flying car
Samson Sky’s Switchblade Flying Sports Car represents an innovative leap towards merging road transportation with aviation. It’s designed to function both as a high-performance, street-legal vehicle and a capable aircraft. The Switchblade, with its three wheels, transitions from driving to flying by extending its wings and tail in under three minutes.
This unique vehicle aims to save substantial travel time by converting a 10-hour regional trip into about 3.5 hours door to door, offering a novel approach to mobility.
The vehicle completed its maiden flight at Grant County International Airport in Lake Moses, Washington, reaching an altitude of 500 feet and staying airborne for nearly six minutes before landing smoothly. This event marked a significant milestone for Samson Sky after 14 years of development, showcasing the Switchblade’s capabilities in flight and the culmination of extensive research and hard work.
The Switchblade is powered by a 1.6-liter, 3-cylinder liquid-cooled engine that produces 190 horsepower. This engine serves as a generator for electric wheel and prop motors, allowing for a seamless transition between driving and flying modes. Its design enables speeds over 125 mph (201 km/h) on the road and a standard cruise speed of 160 mph (257 km/h) in the air. It boasts a range of 450 miles (724 km) on a full 36-gallon tank of fuel and requires runways of 1,100 ft for takeoff and 700 ft for landing.
Developed over more than a decade by a team led by Sam Bousfield, an architect turned inventor with a passion for aviation, the Switchblade is aimed at consumers looking for the cutting edge in transportation. It combines a proprietary 190-hp engine with Skybrid Technology, enabling regenerative braking, reverse thrusters, and air brake assist for easier takeoffs and landings. The vehicle’s transformation from car to plane, designed to occur in less than three minutes, showcases its unique capability to adapt to the needs of its users swiftly.
The Switchblade’s construction incorporates thermoplastic carbon fiber, a material previously used only by aerospace giants like Boeing and Airbus. This material choice not only enhances the vehicle’s durability and safety but also its environmental footprint, as the manufacturing process is designed to be non-toxic and fully recyclable. The interior of the Switchblade promises a familiar yet advanced driving experience, with the cockpit/cabin designed to resemble conventional vehicles while integrating modern technologies for both driving and flying.
This flying sports car is positioned as a versatile solution for future mobility, combining the convenience of driving with the speed and efficiency of flight. As Samson Sky moves forward with producing more prototypes based on their maiden flight’s test data, the Switchblade Flying Sports Car could indeed become a significant part of how we think about personal transportation in the years to come.
Contact: samsonsky.com