08:28 27-11-2025

Samson Sky's Switchblade: hybrid flying car testing restarts

Samson Sky revives the Switchblade flying car with a new testing phase and hybrid powertrain checks, plus an AI cockpit assistant to ease piloting safely.

The Switchblade flying car project is back in motion: Samson Sky has announced a new testing phase and a successful check of its hybrid powertrain. After the first takeoff in 2023, updates were scarce, but momentum has clearly returned. The hybrid setup, built around a turbocharged 300-hp four-cylinder and an 800-volt architecture, has completed initial bench runs and is headed for further evaluations at the University of Dayton Research Institute.

According to Tarantas News, the Switchblade blends the roles of car and light aircraft: on the road it can hit 160 km/h, and in the air it reaches 322 km/h with a ceiling of roughly 4,000 meters. Switching to flight takes about three minutes as the wings and tail deploy. The team notes the model falls under experimental aviation, so future owners will need not only a driver’s license but also a pilot’s license. On top of that, buyers must assemble half of the vehicle under the Builder Assist program, in line with FAA requirements. The three-minute conversion points to everyday usability, yet the licensing and build obligations make it a choice for those ready to commit.

The next step is to trial the hybrid unit on a test truck that will simulate propeller load—a pragmatic way to validate the system before additional flight testing. Interest in the Switchblade remains high, with around 2,900 reservations. There is also a focus on an AI assistant intended to ease piloting, even though a full autopilot is not part of the plan; done right, that helper could reduce cockpit workload without taking the pilot out of the loop.