Alef Aeronautics, a Silicon Valley-based company, is set to begin test flights for its "Model A," a road-legal electric car with vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities. The company has partnered with Hollister and Half Moon Bay airports for the tests. The Model A can fly in any direction and is equipped with a gimbaled cockpit to ensure stability for the driver and passengers during flight.

The vehicle has a ground driving range of approximately 320 km and a flight range of around 170 km. Classified as an ultralight aircraft under U.S. federal regulations, it can operate without a separate pilot's license. However, flights are restricted to daytime hours and are not permitted over urban or densely populated areas.

Alef Aeronautics has already secured over 3,300 pre-orders for the Model A, which is expected to cost about $300,000 (approximately 420 million KRW). The company's CEO, Jim Dukhovny, stated that the initiative is a new attempt to integrate cars with aviation infrastructure, highlighting that electric aviation is "environmentally friendly, quiet, and uses less space." He also expressed hope that many Silicon Valley airports will adopt electric aircraft in the future.

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