Samson Sky just sharpened its Switchblade, improving the design aerodynamics of this novel three-wheeled, fixed-wing flying car.
The improved design is the latest since the concept’s initial introduction in 2009. The new Switchblade has a maximum gross take-off weight of 2,600 pounds. Its wing area has also been increased from 67 to 99 square feet. It also has increased interior space as well as a higher fuel capacity of 40 gallons. The company says the new version, which has been wind-tunnel tested, should bring it closer to commercial production in 2026.
Following its first flight in November 2023, the Samson Sky team went back to the drawing board to create a new body design to streamline performance and reduce drag by an additional 20 percent, Sam Bousfield, Samson Sky’s CEO and designer, tells Robb Report. The updated design includes other refinements like folding side wing mirrors, nose radiator inlet, performance radiator outlet, headlights, and tail lights.
The new design (inset) has bigger wings and a different tail configuration than the older version.
Samson Sky
On the ground, the vehicle achieved the target of 125 mph, while in the air, the design enhancements and thruster propellers helped the Switchblade meet its target cruise speed of 160 mph in wind-tunnel testing. The Switchblade has a target maximum altitude of 13,000 feet.
Samson Sky is one of a few commercial niche makers of flying cars—including Klein Vision, and PAL-V in Europe and vertical and takeoff and landing (VTOL) air cars from U.S. makers Alef, Doroni, ASKA, and others. They all want to meld the performance of a street-legal car and aircraft to simplify transportation for local and regional commutes.
Samson says owners will be able to park the Switchblade in their garages, fill up with unleaded fuel, and drive to a nearby airport for flight. With wings folded into its body and tail and the twin propellers now housed in the trunk, the Switchblade should take three minutes to convert from drive to flight mode.
The interior space has been expanded for more comfort.
Samson Sky
“There are always changes and modifications based on things learned from flight testing, and we’ve used these to improve our original design while keeping our signature swinging wings that tuck away inside the vehicle when driving,” Bousfield says.
The company will build three production vehicles over the next 12 to 18 months to test real-world fly-and-drive conditions. Two production vehicles will be standard, and one will be a Limited Edition (LE) with a more exotic rear and taillight assembly as well as distinctive styling differences in the main body aft. The options list includes a higher-horsepower engine, 360-degree exterior cameras, and a smoke screen. The interior can also be heavily customized.
Switchblade Gen 1 during a test drive is much clunkier than the new design.
Samson Sky
Once completed and tested, the company plans to do a national promotional tour of the Switchblade. “Everything we do is with the mindset of how we are going to produce thousands of Switchblades,” said Bousfield.
The vehicle will be priced from $179,000 to $195,000. Since it’s classified as an experimental aircraft by the FAA, owners will be required to build 51 percent of the flying car and have a pilot’s license. The company will have an assistance program to help owners with the build.
The dream of making flying cars a reality has been happening for more than 75 years. Skeptics believe its long-term commercial viability probably won’t happen before 2050, even as the FAA recently issued Advanced Air Mobility rulemaking that creates a regulatory framework for new and emerging aircraft, including eVTOLs.