Where else but Silicon Valley, California would a new and unknown company open a showroom for an electric flying car that won’t go on sale until 2026 and will cost $789,000?
Yes, NFT Inc, announced last week that it is taking pre-orders for the ASKA, which they claim is the first electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle designed for consumers.
The company has also opened the world’s first consumer flying car showroom. Located in Los Altos, the heart of Silicon Valley, the sales showroom features demonstration models of the ASKA and also functions as a learning centre about urban air mobility.
The four-seater ASKA drives on the road like a car, capable of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), as well as short takeoff and landing (STOL), and flies like an aircraft.
A special limited edition of ASKA is now available for preorder and priced at $789,000. Interested buyers can register at ASKA’s website www.askafly.com to start the sales process and to place a $5000.00 deposit to secure their place on the preorder list. The deposit will be held in an escrow account and is fully refundable.
Customers placing pre-orders will also be granted 1 option of share equity if eligibility requirements are met to comply with securities laws.
VIP services included in the pricing are pilot licence training, customised interior/exterior design, and a personalised licence plate. The ASKA is targeted for delivery in 2026, pending standard regulatory approval and certification.
The initial limited model of ASKA has a flight range of up to 250 miles powered by electric motors, and is equipped with a range extender as a redundant safety system. Full electric system architecture of ASKA enables future models to convert range extenders to any other energy source such as hydrogen.
People can board ASKA at their home, on the street or in a parking lot, and drive it like a regular car. It’s the size of a large SUV in drive mode.
To transition to flight mode, ASKA lifts off vertically in a designated vertipad launch space. Flying the vehicle will be made simple through semi-autonomous technologies, says NFT, although pilot training will still be needed to operate ASKA in the air.
https://youtu.be/2oAN82nKKzI
Dual type of power supply sources exist for optimal safety. Each rotor has an independent battery power source plus a range extender power to ensure continued flight and a safe landing in the event of an emergency.
ASKA’s full scale flight demonstrations will be taking place in 2022, and the company is part of NASA’s Advanced Air Mobility National Campaign, along with Boeing, Bell, and others.
Guy Kaplinsky, Co-founder & CEO, NFT, Inc, said, “We have focused significantly on ASKA’s safety elements, which include dual energy sources, large wings, large propellers, 6 pack of batteries to ensure ASKA is as safe in the air as it is on the ground.