Alef Aeronautics

Alef Aeronautics is a California-based company, founded in 2015 by Jim Dukhovny, Constantine Kisly, Pavel Markin, and Oleg Petrov, dedicated to designing and developing an all-electric, road-drivable flying car. The founders, inspired by the film "Back to the Future," sketched their initial concept on a napkin in a Palo Alto coffee shop. The company aims to solve urban traffic congestion by creating a vehicle that can drive on streets and take off vertically to fly over obstacles.

The company's flagship product is the "Model A," a two-passenger vehicle designed to look and drive like a car while also functioning as an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. It features a unique design where the carbon-fiber, mesh-covered body rotates 90 degrees to become a biplane-like wing structure for forward flight, while the gimballed cockpit remains stable. The Model A is powered by eight propellers concealed within the body for safety and is designed to fit in a standard parking space and garage. It has a projected driving range of 200 miles and a flight range of 110 miles, with a road speed limited to around 25 mph.

Alef Aeronautics generated significant attention after receiving a Special Airworthiness Certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in June 2023, allowing for limited test flights for research and development purposes. The company's business model focuses on direct sales of the Model A, which is priced at approximately $300,000. Revenue will be generated through vehicle sales, with plans for future income from maintenance, servicing, and potential technology licensing. Alef has already received several thousand pre-orders from individuals and through B2B agreements, representing a substantial potential revenue stream upon delivery, which is anticipated to begin by the end of 2025. The company is also developing a more affordable four-person sedan, the "Model Z," projected for a 2035 release.

Keywords: electric flying car, eVTOL, vertical takeoff and landing, urban air mobility, personal air vehicle, sustainable transportation, advanced air mobility, roadable aircraft, distributed electric propulsion, flying vehicle, next-gen transportation, automotive aviation, Model A, airborne mobility, traffic congestion solution, dual-mode vehicle, personal transport, gimballed cabin, electric aviation, future of transport