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.
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.
This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla
