Yes! We started the new hybrid engine on the test stand as the next step on testing and perfecting the electric hybrid transmission system we call Skybrid™. This is with the actual engine we will be using in production, and this engine will likely be used in the first production vehicle.
“Supercar Blondie featured us again, and this time nailed it. They said that we were faster than most supercars!! We are because we fly at 160 mph. See the article below.”
Sam Bousfield
CEO & Founder
Gentlemen, start your…
Yes! We started the new hybrid engine on the test stand as the next step on testing and perfecting the electric hybrid transmission system we call Skybrid™. This is with the actual engine we will be using in production, and this engine will likely be used in the first production vehicle.
This is 300 hp turbo-charged race-proven engine technology, with stock starter, alternator, and AC compressor!! It is impressive on the stand and makes a nice sound. We think you will enjoy the heck out of it. The video above is short so click on it as many times as you like to get a sense for this 4-cylinder powerhouse.
Once we have installed the generators and wiring harness for the 800 volt (high voltage) hybrid system, we will ship it off to Dayton, Ohio, to test it in the University of Dayton’s hybrid test center. This will enable us to program the master motor controller to ramp up the power being sent to the electric motors. The motors are supplied with electricity from this generator according to the engine’s ability to speed up and slow down. The lag of the gas engine is the most difficult part to predict for the hybrid system and is the reason for making the test stand in the first place.
After this dyno work has been done, and the master motor controller is programmed, we can put the system to work powering a truck on the ground with propellers in the bed to simulate the Switchblade’s operations. After that, we mount the hybrid system into the Switchblade as part of getting the first production prototype into testing.
Bulk sales send Reservations over 2,900
Larger deals are often worked out using a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). With these MOU’s, you write up the basics of the deal laid out with the steps to achieve that would bring the deal to a done. In this case, we recently received two MOU’s, one from a flight service group called Air Tashkent of Uzbekistan in Central Asia, and another from an individual in neighboring Tajikistan.
The total commitments from these two countries are for 350 aircraft plus assistance in pilot training and mechanic training. Something over $70MM worth of goods and services. This would put our Reservations up to 2,930 or so. We have another MOU for 100 vehicles from Dubai in the works.
Most of the body parts done
We have three hood parts and three roof parts made now. With most of the body parts we have made only one part. This allows us to assemble the first vehicle before making parts for the two other production test vehicles. This is done in case there is an issue during assembly, and we need to modify one or more of the parts.
The roof and hood parts are made from one giant mold, so it is better to make all those parts from it together since the temporary mold will not hold up to repeated runs through the composite oven.
You can see those parts in the image below. The roof is the first image below with a roof scoop for the intercooler, and you can see some of the top edge of the windshield in this part. The part will be trimmed to allow the windshield to be mounted on a ledge, so the glass is flush with the skin. Below that is the front hood part. The pointy end is the nose.
We also finished the rear quarter panel molds and parts shown below. The quarter panel parts look to me like a side view of a Batman vehicle or a giant carbon fiber can opener. What does it look like to you? Martha says it looks like progress.
The part that looks like a fin is towards the front of this part, which starts at the back side of the door. Hard to see as you are looking at it straight down as it has a lot of curves and shape to it. The third image below shows this same part from the rear looking forward, and you can see more of how it looks. This is the rear wheel opening and the back half of the body from the door to the tail.
Flexible schedule
All of these are really big pieces. We only have the rear hatch and bumper to make and then should be complete with all parts for the body exterior. Next up are the bulkheads, floor pan, and internal structure. Then we assemble the whole body!
We are preparing to ramp up with bigger funding, and will adjust our schedule for first flight of the production vehicle as that comes in. The one thing you can count on is that we don’t give up and that we keep making progress. With the end in sight, we are motivated to finish and get into production. A lot will change when the first vehicle hits the road and starts to be seen around the US. The other two production vehicles will follow behind and start to change the face of transportation.
Increase in fundraising success
We are making much greater progress in the larger fundraising, and are negotiating on several large deals – one of which is for the full $83MM required, and another is for $2MM. It looks like the opportunity is making more sense to people as they see the big hype over vertical take-off and landing vehicles somewhat fading. Investors are seeing that we handle a major portion that the VTOL’s don’t – regional travel of 200-500 mile trips.
Since the big deals can take a bit of time to happen, we are making available the investment opportunity of $50k-100k, for any of you who would like to get in on that. We are headed back to Riyadh and Dubai to conclude some business there and were invited by a member of the Saudi Royal Family to have a booth at the prestigious Saudi Sand & Fun Airshow later this month. This was quite an honor, and we expect several other members of the ruling family to come by and say hello to the future of transportation.
Business Plan Upgrades
One bonus from the trip to the Middle East was the establishment of a Business-to-Business use case for the Switchblade for Express Mail Courier service. It turned out that the Switchblade Direct Operating Cost for something like a Courier Service rivals that of the Cessna Caravan which was specifically designed for that role by Cessna for FedEx. Using a Switchblade, there is evidence that Express Mail could be improved and made less costly. Good news for FedEx or whoever may utilize fleets of certified Switchblades for such a service.
We have also mapped out the path to full autonomous driving and flying in the future and are introducing the AI Co-Pilot as a first step in that direction. We are not willing to let AI loose with control, but we can have an AI co-pilot help with monitoring and flagging Air Traffic Control communications and spotting aircraft that we should pay attention to when flying in high-traffic zones like Los Angeles or around big airports. In a ‘shackled’ role, AI can be very helpful to make flying in even dense traffic safer and more enjoyable.
As a result, we have upgraded our Business Plan Outline (six pages), and have a five-minute video, Switchblade Business Intro , that have proven to be very useful in presenting the business case for the Switchblade. You can click on the links above and below to access these if you like, and feel free to pass the links to anyone you feel may be interested. It all helps get the word out on this amazing product, which we are honored to bring to the world. Thank you in advance for any assistance you can give. You never know who other people know, and this is how we find out.
Samson Business Plan Outline
Starting Your Switchblade Lifestyle Upgrade
In the recent articles about our game-changing manufacturing program, I was quoted as saying: “Just having a flying car brings incredible prestige, but being able to say that you built it elevates you to Tony Stark status.”
Maybe you should get your Tony Stark badge and put a $500 Deposit down to gain a fixed delivery position. Reserve/Deposit
Blue Skies
Sam
CEO/Founder
Switchblade in the News
Check out the latest media about the Switchblade and Samson Sky
Supercar Blondie
Across all platforms combined, Supercar Blondie has over 125 million followers worldwide.
https://supercarblondie.com/samson-sky-switchblade-flying-car/
This may be the best article we have had for the Switchblade.
Interesting Engineering
https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/worlds-most-impressive-flying-cars
7 top flying cars
