AssetID: 53210850
Headline: RAW VIDEO: Road-Legal Flying Car Completes First Successful First Flight And Landing In Washington
Caption: A road-legal flying car has successfully completed its first flight and landing in Washington. During its inaugural flight, the £160,000 Samson Sky Switchblade climbed to an altitude of 500 feet. Test pilot Robert Moehle, a seasoned aviator, skillfully navigated the aircraft above the airport and the picturesque foothills, remaining airborne for nearly six minutes before executing a gentle touchdown. The highly-anticipated two-seater vehicle has already garnered an impressive 2,300 reservations from 57 countries and all 50 states in the United States. The Switchblade is a unique three-wheel, street-legal automobile that can conveniently fit in your garage. Owners simply drive to a nearby airport, where the wings effortlessly unfold, and the tail extends in less than three minutes. Once prepared for flight, the aircraft can reach speeds of up to 200mph and cover a distance of 450 miles, with the capability to ascend to altitudes of 13,000 feet. After landing, users can effortlessly transform the flying sports car back into driving mode, with the wings and tail securely stowed, allowing them to continue their journey to their final destination. Each Switchblade is available in a DIY kit form, which includes the engine, transmission, avionics, interiors, and access to the Samson Builder Assist Program. Sam Bousfield, the CEO and designer of the Switchblade, expressed his elation, stating, "Today is the culmination of many years of hard work and persistence to make the vision of a flying sports car a reality. After 14 years of design and rigorous testing, our first flight is a huge milestone. This puts us on the path towards producing thousands of Switchblades to meet the large and enthusiastic demand we're receiving." The Samson Team plans to utilise the flight test data to finalise production engineering and create several production prototypes. The Switchblade is available in two kit variants: a £139,000 version suitable for clear weather conditions and a £160,000 model capable of flying under various weather conditions, including cloudy skies and zero visibility. The vehicle has a unique hybrid electric system, which uses regular unleaded auto gas rather than leaded aviation fuel. While a private pilot's license is necessary to operate the Switchblade, Samson Sky is seeing interest from non-pilots who intend to learn how to fly.
Keywords: feature,photo feature,photo story,flying car,first flight,design,tech,technology,future,Samson,Sky Switchblade
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