Watch: Flying car inspired by Back to the Future makes world-first VTOL flight on public road

John E. Kaye

News & Features

Published
February 20, 2025
3:48 pm
News, Technology

Great Scott! This is the historic moment a flying car inspired by the Back to the Future movies takes to the skies for the first time on a public road

The black, futuristic vehicle is seen ‘hopping’ over a parked SUV in California, in a development that is said to rival the Wright Brother’s first powered flight in 1903.

Footage shows the Alef Model Zero approaching a stationary white people carrier before it smoothly rises-up and takes to the air.

It then silently glides over the SUV, reaching a height of around 25ft, before landing safely on the road 50ft ahead.

In total, the electric vehicle flies for around 100ft and is airborne for 27 seconds.

The video, released today by California-based Alef Aeronautics, is said to be the first of its kind in the world to show a car driving and taking off vertically in a city.

Flying cars have only previously been filmed driving and using a runway to take off, or being tethered to the ground for safety.

^{Alef founders left to right – Pavel Markin – Jim Dukhovny – Constantine Kisly – Oleg Petrov – photo credit Sasha Blaim}

According to Alef Aeronautics, the flight marks a turning point in transportation.

Jim Dukhovny, the firm’s CEO, said: “This drive and flight test represents an important proof of technology in a real-world city environment.

“We hope it will be a moment similar to the Wright Brothers’ Kitty Hawk video, proving to humanity that new transportation is possible.”

The test was conducted on a quiet side street in Santa Mateo to mimic an “emergency blocking traffic situation”.

Emergency services were on standby, and the road was closed off to the public.

“The test was completed successfully without any safety issues”, Alef Aeronautics confirmed.

Remarkably, the Alef Model Zero, which is all-electric, was designed on a back of a napkin in a café and was inspired by the DeLorean in the Back to the Future film series.

Some 3,300 pre-orders have already been placed on Alef Aeronautics’ website.

In December 1903, humanity’s long-held dream of flying came true when brothers Orvill and Wilbur Wright took to the skies for the first time in a glider. Their 12-second flight changed the world forever.