In the world of eVTOLs there is a specific category that looks like straight out of a 1960s sci-fi cartoon, when personal air mobility comes to resemble, quite literally and at least in function, a flying car.

AIR, one of the startups that are pursuing the development of an aircraft in this space, just announced that it conducted the first successful test of its AIR ONE prototype on June 21st in Northern Israel.

The tests involved a 868kg full scale demonstrator hovering multiple times. The founding team called it a success as it get ready for the rather ambitious development and roll out calendar, which aims to get it certified by 2023 and launch in 2024 (subject to obtaining the certification the previous year).

Unlike other eVTOL developers that are aiming for the air taxi/regional mobility market, in principle to be provided by corporate operators, AIR is positioning its aircraft for personal use, in a role akin to that that cars play today.

In a conversation with AIR’s CEO, Rani Plaut, he explained how changes recently introduced by the FAA in the certification process and categorization of eVTOLs, by which a new special “eVTOL category, 21.17b has been created, have clarified the landscape and made it simpler for AIR and other companies in this segment.

And what regulatory framework will apply if all the sudden thousands of private users?

Some training would be needed, but just as there are sports pilot licenses (which require 20h of training) and the more demanding, but still accessible to many, private pilot licenses that require 40h, that would not put “flying cars” beyond reach of amateur pilots.

Mr. Plaut explained how AIR’s eVTOL is designed for simplicity of maintenance (no moving parts) and operation. He credits their proprietary flight management software, in particular, for making it very easy to control. Apparently, when they brought an AIR ONE simulator to the Kentucky Derby last May ,to showcase the eVTOL, many of the attendees with no previous piloting experience managed to fly and land the aircraft safely, which, he highlights, would be unthinkable with a traditional helicopter or aircraft.

And when it comes to overflight rights, Mr. Plaut pointed out around 95% of the US airspace is considered, below 1,200ft, to be “G class” airspace and relatively free of regulatory hurdles, which for many potential users would already make for a compeling use case. If larger eVTOLs such as Joby and the like later manage to establish a clear regulatory framework to operate in more congested or sensitive airspace, such as cities and near airports, AIR is ready to follow, of course.

If all goes according to plan, AIR ONE will retail for around $150k and a first showroom, managed by distributor-partner Aeroauto, is planned in Stuart, Florida.

AIR tests its "flying car" successfully