The startup company Aska, based in Northern California, has developed a hybrid flying car model that can drive on roads and take off into the sky with the flip of a switch.
The Aska A5 is a hybrid flying car that aims to turn the dream of flying vehicles into reality. The company has been working on this model since 2018. Recently, they completed their first prototype and conducted a test flight lasting 10 minutes, as reported by Business Insider on August 28. The A5 prototype has received a test flight license from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Aska is the second flying car startup to be licensed by the FAA this year, following Alef Aeronautics.
Final version rendering of Aska A5. (Image: Aska).
With the A5, Aska aims to revolutionize transportation and make it easier for passengers to live far from their offices in expensive cities like San Francisco, according to CEO and co-founder Guy Kaplinsky. The A5 can fly at speeds of 240 km/h and travel 400 km between refueling stops. The vehicle operates using an electric motor combined with a gas turbine engine, which enhances its range.
The A5 is capable of vertical takeoff and landing like a drone or helicopter while also flying horizontally like a conventional airplane. The rear wings and propulsion engines can rotate 90 degrees to switch between forward flight and vertical landing. Other companies are developing electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) vehicles, but those flying taxis do not have the capability to drive on roads. To operate on roadways, the wings of the A5 fold inward, creating a compact car-like profile.
However, the vehicle still resembles an airplane more than a car. The company aims for the A5 to operate on local roads with low speed limits. According to Aska, passengers can drive the A5 for about 16 km or less, between their homes and workplaces. Although the A5 prototype is roughly the size of a Ford F-350 pickup truck, the final product will be smaller and easier to park.
The cockpit of the prototype is still quite basic, and the doors do not close tightly. But this is expected for an initial version. The vehicle features small screens instead of side mirrors. The final version will accommodate six people and will be equipped with more luxurious interiors. Aska plans to deliver the A5 in 2026 and also intends to launch a ride-sharing service at an affordable price.
