Featured Image Credit: Fox Business
Topics: Cars, News, US News, World News
Callum Jones
Remember watching Back to the Future 2 when Marty McFly time travelled to the year 2015 and there were flying cars?
Well, when 2015 did rock around, there were no sign of the invention, with us still stuck in a lot of traffic in the commute back from work.
But while flying cars may seem like a futuristic prospect even in 2023, the reality of them is actually a lot closer than you think.
In fact, the world's first fully electric flying car has now been approved by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
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The exciting news means that Alef Aeronautics - the company making the car - will be allowed to road test, or in this case air test, to ensure the vehicle is safe and fit for purpose.
However, the company can't just fly the futuristic car where it likes, with specific locations given to Alef by the FAA.
The tests are now permitted after the FAA awarded the flying car a Special Airworthiness Certification.
Alef Aeronautics’ flying car is a low-speed vehicle that can be driven up to 200 miles on public roads and will fit into a regular garage like any bog-standard car.
However, what is very different to the cars we currently own is that this one can launch vertically up into the air.
According to Alef's website, it has a flying range of an impressive 110 miles, which will certainly make them day trips a lot easier to get to!
Currently, the car is known as the 'Model A' - though that name will most likely change once it hits the market.
Alef says the car 'can fly forward above the obstacles until a desired destination is reached [while] the driver and the cabin are stabilized by a unique gimbaled rotating cabin design.'
Of course, one of the main positives to the car is to avoid them dreaded traffic jams, something Alef is heavily focusing on its marketing.
That marketing will surely have to be top draw too, as the flying car will certainly not come cheap.
Customers can actually pre-order the vehicle now, though it will set them back $300,000.
In a press release, Jim Dukhovny, CEO of Alef, said: "We're excited to receive this certification from the FAA. It allows us to move closer to bringing people an environmentally friendly and faster commute, saving individuals and companies hours each week. This is a one small step for planes, one giant step for cars."
The car was first unveiled by Alef in October, with the company saying they have already taken a 'strong' number of pre-orders.