This Personal Aerial Vehicle is the Closest Thing to a Flying Car We've Seen Yet

This isn’t a flying car – it’s a “personal aerial vehicle,” and it’ll cost you about $50,000. Manufacturer Muskthrust says their ONE prototype will be ready for purchase en masse in 2023.

They’re far from the first company to design a personal flying vehicle, but they fall back on 3D printing and AI in their manufacturing process as key differentiators.

According to Tech Acute:

Individuals such as Elon Musk have expressed their disapproval of flying cars in the future with the fear of vehicular hazards possibly falling from the sky. However, the ONE’s current design doesn’t seem like the type to drop a rogue hubcap on an innocent bystander.

This aerial vehicle is meant for just one person and their luggage. It is battery operated and can travel 250 km with just 20 minutes of charging and 450 km with a full charge. Its speed of 300 km/h ensures that you get to your destination on time.

One thing to respect about this flying car company

I get the feeling that while we’ve all wished we could soar over traffic at one point or another, most of us probably also don’t envision being able to do so in our lifetimes. It remains to be seen if this prototype will be able to commute safely on its launch in 2023…But until that time, I do have to commend the company for one of their key selling points.

Muskthrust apparently uses mostly recycled and renewable materials in their fabrication, according to the above-linked Tech Acute article. Also, the ONE is completely electric.

These easy-to-overlook specs actually seem quite important. If this company is finally going to provide “the future of personal travel” and be a model for similar vehicles to enter the market, they should set their green standards high.

While I remain a little skeptical of this machine and its relative safety and performance, I do think we have an opportunity here to do what the ground-dwelling automobile industry couldn’t do when it first started: consider reducing our carbon footprint something that’s equally — if not more — valuable than driving oneself to work.