Samson Sky Switchblade - an unusual car worth $150,000 that turns into an airplane in a few seconds and can reach speeds of 257 km/h

The company Samson Sky is preparing for the first flight tests of the flying car Switchblade.

What we know

The unusual vehicle has received approval for test flights from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. Work on the car has been conducted for 14 years. Soon Switchblade will go to the air for the first time. The car has already been tested on highways.

Samson Sky equipped Switchblade with three wheels in an attempt to simplify the design of the car as much as possible. The exterior of the vehicle resembles a small wedge-shaped capsule. The interior is designed for two people (driver + passenger). A separate button is used to turn the car into an airplane. When pressed, the electric drive unfolds the propeller, tail and wings.

Switchblade is equipped with a 1.6-liter gasoline 190 HP engine. The car has a top speed of 200 km/h on the track and 257 km/h in the air. The manufacturer says that the 125-liter tank is enough to cover 725 km.

For takeoff the car needs a 335-meter long flat section of asphalt, and for landing it 213 meters are enough. The Samson Sky Switchblade costs $150,000. The company has already received 1,670 orders. Advance payment will be available after successful test flights. A driver's and pilot's license will be required to operate the machine.

Source: NewAtlas