FAA Approves SpaceX-Backed Flying Car

A flying automobile from Alef Aeronautics, a mobility startup backed by SpaceX, has been approved by federal inspectors. The government has just granted a flying car “legal approval to fly” for the first time.

Alef’s flying car has received an experimental special airworthiness certificate from the American Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). For purposes such as research and development, crew training, market research, demonstrations, and proving compliance with regulations, vehicles are given an experimental certification. On June 27, the California-based company issued a press statement claiming that this was “the first time a vehicle of this nature has received legal approval to fly from the US Government.”

Alef’s Armada Model Zero has been certified, the FAA notified Flying magazine. A forerunner to Armada was the $300,000 Model A automobile that the company unveiled in October of last year. Without it, “our flights were very limited,” an Alef spokesman told the reporters. Learn More