Development Continues for 'Roadable' Hybrid VTOL

Aska's A5 has seen its FAA special airworthiness certificate approved again, allowing them to continue the development process and bring the hybrid eVTOL to market.

The A5 is a "roadable" electric-hybrid VTOL aimed at splitting the difference between aircraft and automobiles, and the company's previous year of testing has shown promise using a full-scale, uncrewed prototype. Now, the FAA has given its approval for them to keep at the grind and continue flight operations. So far, the prototype A5 has completed its vertical takeoff, hovering, driving, and transition phases in the testing process. The latter must be an interesting element not too frequently seen in the industry until now - the 'flying car' concept has been around forever, but only in the latest generation of VTOL development has it really gotten to the point of automated conversion between road and flight modes. Aska says they'll continue on with more hover tests and flights in the vertical axis, and once they feel steady there they'll move on to the transition to forward flight, runway takeoffs, and landings.

Aska is already accepting pre-orders for the A5, asking for $789,000 per unit. That stiff price tag isn't the only way to hitch a ride, though, with plans to release the ASKA On-Demand ride service. Pre-orders have some caveats that seem pretty comforting in a world of so many aborted flying car projects: The $5,000 deposit goes into escrow, fully refundable a year after cancellation. Pre-orders also grant equity in the company, or they should as long as the offer passes through legal scrutiny and securities laws. Aska says that they'll happily offer pilot training, customized interior and exterior design, and personalized registrations, with an eye to deliver the first units by 2026.

FMI:www.askafly.com