High Rate of Switchblade Customers Shown to be Non-Pilots

With an increasingly high rate of flying car customers proving to be non-pilots, manufacturer Samson Sky is introducing a new training program using its Switchblade vehicle. The program will be available to both owners and non-customers.

The Switchblade is a two-seat, roadable aircraft that converts from car to airplane in under three minutes, drawing attention from across the US for its practicality and modern design. It runs on premium unleaded gas, cruises at 160 mph in the air, and offers a range of about 450 miles. The vehicle can be parked in a residential garage and driven to the airport, appealing to regional travelers who routinely take 250-500-mile trips.

Company founder and CEO Sam Bousfield says that demand is coming not just from pilots, but from regular travelers. “Eighty percent of those expressing interest were non-pilots,” he noted, referencing Samson’s market research. “Based on these survey numbers, if we produced thousands of vehicles a year, we might not even scratch the surface of the demand we are seeing for a vehicle such as the Switchblade.”

To address this, Samson’s training program will provide owners (or aspiring owners) with access to instruction, flight simulators, and partnerships with existing flight schools. The company also plans to develop its own training infrastructure as it expands. “One key portion of our program is the use of advanced flight simulators where students can master each new maneuver before going up in the air,” Bousfield added.

Samson points out that, after an airline pilot shortage was projected in the early 2020s, the number of student pilots in the US tripled within five years. The company hopes that trend will continue as interest in personal aviation grows, especially with roadable aircraft like the Switchblade offering a new reason to take to the skies.

Samson Reservations Manager Martha Hall Bousfield added that “Over the years, countless people have said that if we produce the Switchblade, they will get their pilot’s license, telling me, ‘I’ve been dreaming of having a flying car my whole life and I am not missing out!’”

FMI: www.samsonsky.com