Enhanced Body Design Shortens Pathway to Production for Switchblade Flying Car

"Everything we do is focused on how we’re going to produce thousands of Switchblades to meet the huge demand we have," said Bousfield. Samson officials mentioned that the company’s current Reservations could lead to sales worth over $450 million, with Reservation Holders from 57 countries, including all 50 U.S. states.

The company also shared that they have tested and confirmed many important aspects of the design during flight testing. The updated design takes the Switchblade to the next level. "What many people don’t realize is that a company creating a brand-new aircraft doesn’t start production with their first design," explained Bousfield. "There are always adjustments and improvements based on what’s learned from flight tests. We’ve used those insights to refine our original design, while still keeping our signature feature: the wings that fold completely inside the vehicle when driving."

The website describes the Switchblade as a high-performance vehicle, both on the road and in the air. The test model that flew in 2023 reached their goal of 125 mph during ground testing, and the company made design changes to meet their target flying cruise speed.

Bousfield also noted that wind tunnel testing in May confirmed that the updated design, with its sleeker body and new thruster propellers, will allow Samson to reach their target of a 160-mph flying cruise speed. This means they are ready to move forward with the enhanced design. Wind tunnel testing is a common practice in aviation and is used by major companies like Boeing, Airbus, and Cessna. It provides highly accurate data, often within 3% of actual performance.

Samson is building three test vehicles over the next 18 months to conduct thorough testing of every aspect of the vehicle, both when flying and driving.

The Switchblade Flying Sports Car is a street-legal, hybrid electric vehicle that performs well both on the road and in the air. You can park it in your garage, drive it to a nearby airport, and in under three minutes, the wings unfold and the tail extends. Once airborne, you can fly it to a nearby airport, land, and then easily switch back to driving mode—wings and tail safely stowed. You then drive the last few miles to your destination. The Switchblade seats two people side-by-side, has room for travel bags, and can fly up to 500 miles on a single tank of premium gasoline.