Source: Home of Flying Cars
The American Switchblade flying car is set to be manufactured using thermoplastic carbon fiber composite material (CFRTP) and its manufacturing technology, following the completion of a five-year research and rigorous testing phase by its producer, Samson Sky. The company claims that CFRTP is recyclable and non-toxic, with minimal impact on the overall environment. Carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin-based composites, on the other hand, produce waste during the manufacturing process and are difficult to recycle. Any scrap or waste material generated from using CFRTP can be recycled and used in the production of non-structural components, effectively eliminating waste in the manufacturing process.
Composite materials are lightweight and high-strength, widely used in high-performance vehicles such as race cars,” said Sam Bousfield, CEO and designer of the Switchblade at Samson Sky. “Major manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus have been using thermoplastic composites in their aircraft for over eight years,” Bousfield added. “In the past five years of research and testing, we have discovered an advanced carbon fiber composite material that can be used for the main structure of the Switchblade.
The company’s composite materials team has thoroughly tested the material in various ways at different temperatures and is confident in using this material for the all-composite Switchblade vehicle. “This will enable Samson Sky to manufacture parts at eight times the speed and half the cost of other companies,” said Steve McGinnis, a composite materials advisor at Samson Sky. According to the company’s website, McGinnis has over 35 years of experience in the manufacturing of composite aircraft and has held leadership positions at companies such as Virgin Galactic, Mooney Aircraft, ICON Aircraft, and the Amazon Drone Project. He has played a significant role in over 20 aircraft designs and has been granted or is in the process of applying for eight patents related to the manufacturing of composite aircraft bodies.
The Switchblade Flying Sports Car is a legally roadworthy hybrid electric vehicle that performs high in both road and air. You park the Switchblade in your garage and drive it to the nearest airport. Once there, the wings extend outward and the tail takes less than three minutes to extend. You fly the plane to the nearest airport to your destination, then simply land, switch back to driving mode — the wings and tail retract into the body — and drive the last few miles to your destination. The Switchblade seats two people side by side and can fly 500 miles on a tank of car gasoline.
