MOSES LAKE, Washington — Samson Sky’s flying car, the Switchblade, recently completed its maiden flight at Grant County International Airport (KMWH), which is often used by Boeing and other major aircraft makers for flight testing.
Veteran test pilot Robert Moehle conducted the successful flight, “concluding years of work to prove-out the dream of creator and designer Sam Bousfield that there can be a true high-performance flying car,” company officials said.
The first flight was achieved under cloudy skies but calm winds, according to company officials.
The Samson Sky team, positioned along the runway, watched as the Switchblade lifted off and flew to an altitude of 500 feet. The Switchblade remained airborne for nearly six minutes, then lightly touched down, completing its maiden flight, officials noted.
“The Switchblade handled great,” said Moehle. “I’m excited to be the first to fly it away from the ground.”
Moehle, who trained in flight testing with The Boeing Company, served as test director for the 787. He has flown 2,400 hours in 56 aircraft types, including commercial and experimental aircraft. He helped start Mitsubishi Aircraft’s flight test processes in Nagoya, Japan, and Moses Lake, Washington, as test director/lead flight test engineer on the Mitsubishi Regional Jet.
His input helped the Samson R&D team perfect the Switchblade flying prototype, company officials said.
The company has more than 2,300 reservations from 57 countries and all 50 states in the U.S. for the flying car, officials report.
Having future owners from around the world, the Switchblade dashboard was designed to allow for either right-hand or left-hand drive, they added.
“After 14 years of design and rigorous testing, our first flight is a huge milestone,” said Bousfield, CEO and designer of the Switchblade. “The Samson team will use flight test data to finalize production engineering and build several production prototypes. This puts us on the path towards producing thousands of Switchblades to meet the large and enthusiastic demand we’re receiving.“
The Switchblade has a maximum driving speed of 125 mph and an estimated maximum flight speed of 190 mph.
The vehicle has a hybrid electric system, which uses unleaded auto gas rather than leaded aviation fuel. Owners will be able to fuel up at any auto gas station, company officials noted.
Owners will be able to drive their street-legal Switchblade to the airport, where it can transform to flying mode in under three minutes, according to company officials.
The Switchblade seats two, side-by-side, with room to store smaller travel bags. Its wings and tail fold in, protecting them while in driving mode. The engine powers the wheels on the ground and the propeller in the air.
Estimated pricing starts at $170,000. Included in the price is the Samson Builder Assist Program where owners will spend a week assembling their portion of the vehicle at the Build Center. Samson then completes building the rest of the vehicle.
A private pilot certificate is required to fly the Switchblade.
More than nine patents have been applied for or issued, both in the U.S. and internationally, for the Switchblade.
“Today is the culmination of many years of hard work and persistence to make the vision of a flying sports car a reality,” said Bousfield. “Someone asked me how it felt to see the Switchblade fly. I thought about it, and realized that this is what it feels like when your dreams come true.”
For more information: SamsonSky.com
Can it be IFR equipped
Can it have an autopilot
Does it have a chute
I’m curious on the tbo of the engine. So when your driving around are you eating into the engines tbo time?
Congratulations Sam and entire Crew on the successful completion of First Flight!!!
What about insurance? Will there be a need to buy aircraft insurance for airplane operation along with car insurance for ground operation?
Will a municipally owned airport that incorporates card access security gates permit an owner to drive to the ramp and will it permit the owner to prepare the vehicle for flight and post flight configuration if he/she has no access card?
The existing wheels, tires and brakes brings up the question as to how many miles can be driven on them and will they be able to function safely under high speed and high temperature driving and snow conditions? I applaud the effort, but will this be practical especially given the ESTIMATED price of $170K and will that price include the engine? One can buy a nice used aircraft AND a new car/ truck for much less.
Two big problems, ground stability on a Hiway, trikes are tippy, and getting it past the the Hiway Safety Commision crash reqirements.
Less than four wheels at a time on the ground means it’s a “motorcycle”. A lot easier to certify.
Drive under bad weather so no instrument rating needed. – Most private pilots are not IFR rated. No big deal.
No need to rent a car when arriving at a destination airport. Courtesy cars are free.
Uses unleaded auto gasoline vs. 100 Octane Low Lead (100LL) Gasoline. Not unique to this contraption. For over70% of the existing piston fleet mogas STCs have been available for 40+ years.
Better for health of owners and environment. – Huh? How?
Less expensive. Thank what? What is the actual fly-away price?
Does not need a hangar at home airport.. Important point. But it must be stored under roof somewhere. And driving on public roads in an eggshell-like vehicle will quickly make it non-airworthy. When that first goofy teenager texting while driving runs into that very expensive shrouded prop.
Safety: Owner can maintain (In the USA, FAA Factory authorization to Home-builder [Experimental aircraft 51% rule] and “condition inspection” by FAA certified inspector annually) – Certainly not unique to this aircraft.
Reasonable range on 36 USA Gal. fuel. Certainly not unique. A Piper Cub has the same.
Very reasonable price for an aircraft. Compared to what?
Impressions of the video:
1. A steering wheel?
2. The wingtips are very low to the ground and will likely strike it in gusting crosswind operations.
3. Looks like it has some pitch stability / authority problems.
4. The wheels look like something off a small ATV. They will not provide any cushioning effect. Too small to allow operations from most grass runways.
4. What’s up with the empennage? Looks overly complicated and heavy, and probably not very solid on the end of the narrow boom.
5. Looks like a duct tape wing root fillet?
All first flights of a new aircraft are worthy of praise though. My compliments to the creators for seeing it through. Good luck in finding a market for it.
My biggest concern would be damage when operating on public highways.
I didn’t like the way the tail boom was hunting around in the video at 0:51. It did not look substantial and seeing it move to that degree was not confidence inspiring.
That appeared to be a camera effect, not actual shaking of the tail boom.
The Switchblade solves a few problems:
1- Drive under bad weather so no instrument rating needed.
2- No need to rent a car when arriving at a destination airport.
3- Uses unleaded auto gasoline vs. 100 Octane Low Lead (100LL) Gasoline.
a- Better for health of owners and environment.
b- Less expensive.
4- Does not need a hangar at home airport..
5- Safety: Owner can maintain (In the USA, FAA Factory authorization to Home-builder [Experimental aircraft 51% rule] and “condition inspection” by FAA certified inspector annually)
6- Reasonable range on 36 USA Gal. fuel.
7- Very reasonable price for an aircraft.
Not everyone wants to. or even can, own an acreage big enough for an airstrip. And,, every acreage takes that amount of land out of agricultural production.
An airplane flying on mogas? Shocking! Molt Taylor would be pleased with this announcement. But I remain unconvinced that there is a real market for a machine that satisfies the widely opposing requirements of a highway vehicle and an airplane. More bang for the buck seems to me an airplane that can operate from a modest pasture, allowing people to own their own airfield in a rural environment. This may be the reason that kit makers Zenith and Just Aircraft are doing well, focusing on STOL aircraft.