Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled a new Tesla Roadster on Thursday that he says will be able to fly. The reveal took place at a Texas test facility belonging to SpaceX, and the demonstration showed the car flipping and leaping with air jets. Whether it can truly fly, rather than hop, remains unproven.
What Is the Tesla Flying Car?
The Tesla flying car is the company’s new Roadster, a two-person sports car. Musk said it can go from 0 to 60 mph in under a second, a record time.
The car uses 10 nozzles and what Musk called “ultra high-pressure air tanks” to propel itself, both in the air and when accelerating on the ground. He described the technology as the result of a collaboration between the world’s best car company and the world’s best rocket company.
What Happened at the Demonstration?
Suction, a Ramp and a Flip
Musk said the Roadster used suction underneath the car to climb a steep ramp and hang upside down. It then spun off the ramp, flipped in the air and used air jets to land.
A Driverless Test
The car had no actual driver during the demonstration, which Musk said was done “to make sure we don’t kill anyone.” He also told the crowd that success was not guaranteed.
Leaping Over Parked Teslas
Later, the Roadster used the same jets to leap over a line of Tesla’s existing models parked side by side. It then used jets off the back of the car to accelerate to 60 mph in that record time.
When Will the Tesla Flying Car Be Produced?
Musk said the car will go into production in 2028. Throughout Tesla’s history, however, Musk has made timeline promises and missed them by a number of years.
Musk also told the crowd of Tesla fans that the demonstration was staged so they could say they saw it with their own eyes, to prove it was not AI.
Can the Tesla Roadster Really Fly?
Despite the successful event, it is very difficult to say whether the car can truly fly. The demonstration did not include any long-range flight, and it remains to be proven that the car can both fly and drive very fast on roads.
Expert Concerns About a Flying Car
Roger Connor, curator for vertical flight at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, told CNN before the event that aircraft are extremely sensitive to weight, while ground vehicles need bumpers and crumple zones. He said a hybrid of the two is likely to be a poor aircraft and a poor vehicle, and also quite expensive.
Connor also doubted that any street-legal car like the Roadster could fly wherever an owner wanted. “We are literally talking about hopping,” he said.
How Does It Compare With Other eVTOL Projects?
Electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, known as eVTOLs, have advanced in recent years. Some working models exist, but many engineering roadblocks remain for road-worthy cars that can truly fly.
California start-up Alef is developing a car that has gotten airborne using eight propellers, four in front and four in back. That vehicle weighs 254 pounds, a small fraction of a Tesla Roadster, and carries only one person who must weigh less than the vehicle.
Alef CEO Jim Dukhovny told CNN he would not be surprised if Tesla got the Roadster off the ground. He said that is “100% feasible,” but the hardest part for eVTOLs is the transition from vertical rising to forward movement without losing lift or stability.
What Comes Next for Tesla’s Flying Car?
Tesla’s demonstration showed jet-assisted leaps, flips and rapid acceleration, but not sustained flight. Until Tesla shows long-range flight and a road-legal design, and until the 2028 production target nears, the Roadster’s flying ability remains a promise rather than a proven feature.
