Samson Sky develops hybrid-electric system for Switchblade flying car
Samson Sky shared new details about the specialized hybrid electric drive system that powers its Switchblade flying car. The exclusive Skybrid Technology offers several advantages, such as energy savings and the convenience of fueling at a gas station.
The company announced that the proprietary Skybrid Technology is powered by a 260 hp four-cylinder internal combustion engine that is liquid-cooled and sourced from the automotive industry. The engine can run on premium auto gas instead of the pricier and leaded aviation fuel. Samson is modifying the engine for aircraft use and rebadged it as the Samson-4. The gas engine powers a generator which then directs the power to electric motors that power the wheels while driving, or to separate electric motors for the propellers while flying. There are two electric motors in each of the two propeller pods for redundancy. Another benefit of the proprietary technology is the reverse thrust. Reverse thrust temporarily redirects the thrust in the opposite direction of its forward motion.
“It actually acts like a drag parachute, which provides air brake assist and slows down the plane on the runway after touchdown,” Samson Sky CEO and Switchblade designer Sam Bousfield said.
The flying car is also equipped with high-performance racing brakes on all wheels.
Samson Sky Switchblade rendering
“By running the motors directly from the generator to the wheels and the propellers, it is simpler, lighter, more efficient, and only a small battery pack will be required,” Bousfield said. “There is very little wasted energy, which means less fuel is needed to travel the same distance.”
“The takeaway here is that this flying sports car enables you to drive and fly wherever you want, on your own schedule,” he continued. “And as a pilot, I can tell you that the freedom you will feel and the breathtaking views you will see while flying the Switchblade will be incredible!”
The Switchblade Flying Sports Car will be a street-legal, hybrid-electric vehicle that is high-performance on the road and in the air. You can drive the Switchblade from your garage to the airport, then the wings will swing out and the tail will extend in under three minutes, allowing you to fly to the airport nearest your destination. Once you land, you transform the car back to driving mode, with the wings and tail carefully stowed, and drive the next leg of your journey. The Switchblade will seat two, side-by-side, with room for travel bags. The flying car will fly up to 500 miles on a single tank of premium auto gas.
The Switchblade took its first official flight in November 2023, ascending to 500 feet and flying over the countryside for nearly six minutes. Since the monumental achievement, Samson has worked on refining the design ahead of production. In November, one year after the historic first flight, Samson shared that it had completed five years of rigorous testing and research, validating the environmentally friendly thermoplastic carbon composite materials and manufacturing techniques that will be used during production.
As an aircraft in the Experimental category, the FAA does not provide certification. The FAA will certify the aircraft that are fully produced in a factory by the manufacturer. With all Experimental aircraft, the FAA said the owner must build 51 percent of the vehicle. Switchblade owners will spend one week at the Samson Builder Assist Center building 51 percent of their Switchblade. After the owners complete 51 percent of their work, Samson will complete the vehicle. The company has a high volume of orders already and is expecting to have the Samson Builder Assist assembly line ready in the summer of 2026.
Haley Davoren, Digital Content Manager
