Skip to main content

Alef Aeronautics Takes Off: First True Flying Car Begins Operations in Silicon Valley

By Tobbias Mutunga

The Common Pulse | August 2025


History was made in late August 2025 when Alef Aeronautics, a Bay Area startup, officially began test operations of its much-anticipated electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) flying car. Described as the world’s first true flying car, the vehicle is now operating at Half Moon Bay Airport and Hollister Airport in Silicon Valley.

Unlike previous prototypes that blurred the line between car and plane, Alef’s creation is designed as a road-legal passenger car with full VTOL capabilities, meaning it can drive on the highway like any other car and then take off vertically without needing a runway.

What Makes It a True Flying Car?

Alef’s test flights demonstrate a wide range of capabilities that blend everyday driving with futuristic aviation:

  • Driving on the road like a conventional electric car

  • Vertical takeoff from a standstill, no runway required

  • Forward flight once airborne

  • Vertical landing back onto roads or airport grounds

  • Safe maneuvering alongside other aircraft in active airspaces

This dual functionality, seamlessly shifting between car and aircraft, marks a milestone no other company has yet achieved at an operational scale.

Range and Design

The eVTOL car is powered entirely by electricity, offering a road range of about 200 miles and an airborne range of roughly 110 miles. Classified under the FAA’s ultralight category, it doesn’t require full commercial aircraft certification but comes with certain limitations, such as daylight-only operations and restrictions against flying over dense urban centers.

Alef’s entry into airport operations signals more than just a technical milestone, it’s the first step toward integrating flying cars into real-world air traffic systems. By conducting these trials at airports, the company is stress-testing not just the machine, but also the logistics of flying cars sharing skies with planes and drones.

The achievement cements Silicon Valley’s reputation as a hub for futuristic mobility, and places Alef at the forefront of a race that has included competitors like Slovakia’s Klein Vision AirCar, the Netherlands’ PAL-V Liberty, and the U.S.-based Samson Switchblade.

The Road (and Sky) Ahead

While it may take years before commuters can summon flying cars as easily as rideshares, Alef’s milestone shows the future is closer than many imagined. For now, the company’s flying car is a pioneering example of what transportation may look like in the 2030s, a world where traffic jams might finally be solved by simply taking off.


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Utah Man, 22, Charged in Killing of Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk

  By Kiranagacha Mwaniki - The Common Pulse - Orem, Utah ;  September 13, 2025 The bustling quad of Utah Valley University was supposed to be a stage for debate and free expression. Instead, it became the scene of political violence that has shocked the nation. Charlie Kirk, 31, a conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot on September 10 while addressing students at a “Prove Me Wrong” debate. Authorities say the shots came from a nearby rooftop, fired by a young man who had quietly prepared for weeks. On Friday, Utah County officials announced that Tyler James Robinson, 22 , had been taken into custody and charged in connection with Kirk’s killing. He is being held without bail at the Utah County Jail. From Apprentice to Accused Killer Robinson grew up in Washington County, Utah, in what neighbors describe as a quiet household. He worked as an electrical apprentice and once attended Utah State University for a semester in 2021. “He was always ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Former Miss Universe Contestant Tyra Spaulding of Jamaica Found Dead at 26

  By   Mutunga Tobbias | The Common Pulse/latest news/ Kenya/United States/Africa / September 2025    The global pageantry community has been shaken by tragic news coming out of Jamaica. Tyra Spaulding, a former Miss Universe contestant who proudly represented her country on the international stage, has been confirmed dead at the tender age of 26. Her untimely death has sent shockwaves not only through the Caribbean but across the wider world of fashion, beauty, and culture, where she was regarded as one of the rising stars. For a nation that holds its beauty queens close to the heart, the loss is both personal and symbolic. It raises questions about the pressures faced by women in pageantry, the expectations placed on young public figures, and the fragility of life itself. The Rise of Tyra Spaulding in the World of Beauty and Pageantry Tyra Spaulding’s journey into the world of glamour and pageantry began like many others, through small modeling gigs, local com...
Post a Comment
Read more

No Exit: Biya’s Return, Democracy’s Decline

By Kirangacha Mwaniki The Common Pulse | August 2025 At 92 years old, Cameroonian President Paul Biya has signaled his intention to run for yet another term in the 2025 presidential election. Having ruled since 1982, Biya is now the second-longest-serving head of state in the world;  after Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang. His decision has sparked outrage, resignation, and confusion among Cameroonians, many of whom have never known another leader. This re-election bid is more than just a political event;  it is a glaring symptom of a system that has resisted reform, ignored generational change, and weaponized fear to maintain the status quo. The Man Who Time Forgot Paul Biya came to power before most Cameroonians were born. He has led through the Cold War, the rise of mobile phones, the internet revolution, and the African Continental Free Trade Area — all while aging behind the walls of Etoudi Palace. He is rarely seen in public, often ruling from abroad;  mostly Swit...
Post a Comment
Read more