The FAA has given the Samson Switchblade, a fast, street-legal three-wheeler car that can instantly transform into a 200 mph (322 km/h) airplane!
The green light for airworthiness was given after 14 years of development, and the team is currently getting ready for flight tests, as reported first by New Atlas.
Knife-Like Wings
The Switchblade got its name from the way its wings, which swing out like a knife when it's time to fly, emerge from beneath its two-seat cabin. The tail, also stored behind the big pusher prop, swings out and unfolds into a big "T" shape.
Samson claims that the entire push-button conversion from a street-legal trike to an aircraft takes less than three minutes.
Switchblade has a 3-cylinder, 1.6-liter liquid-cooled engine that can generate 190 horsepower using regular 91-octane gas. When the vehicle starts to take flight, an electric prop motor and electric wheels are powered, which basically functions effectively as a generator.
Additionally, the flying car can be registered as a motorcycle in several places despite having three wheels, and Samson claims it can go over 125 mph (201 km/h).
The Switchblade has a definite allure since it is small enough to fit in a garage and be driven to a nearby airport, where the wings and tail are deployed in less than three minutes to enter "flight mode" and its "ground mode" dimensions of 16.8 feet long and 6 feet wide.
Read also: Volkswagen Unveils 'Flying Tiger' - An All-Electric Aircraft With Range of Up To 200km!
Switchblade's Features
According to New Atlas, the Switchblade's standard cruise speed is 160 mph (257 km/h), allowing it to travel 450 miles (724 km) on a full 36-gallon (125-L) tank of fuel.
For takeoff, the vehicle needs a 1,100-foot (335-meter) runway, and for landing, only 700 feet (213 meters).
When the flight gear is rolled up, it will easily fit in a standard garage because it is only 5.1 feet (1.5 meters) tall and has a footprint that is similar to that of a family sedan at 16.8 by 6 feet (5.1 x 1.8 meters).
The Switchblade is a fairly expensive machine with an estimated starting price of US$150,000, but Samson has already accepted reservations for the first 1,670 units and counting, as per The Hill.
In fact, the company is eager to launch its prototype because a large portion of its reservations will turn into US$2,000 deposits within 45 days of the first public takeoff.
The Switchblade will be available as a kit that can be assembled at home in about 2,000 hours. Samson is setting up a build assistance facility where owners can visit and utilize a "pro build team" and the best working environment to finish their aircraft within a week.
There may one day be a fully certified version of the Switchblade because the manufacturer designed it to adhere to Part 23 standards for full certification as well, according to New Atlas.
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This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla
