You can finally buy a real flying car in 2026, but it won’t be cheap

Flying cars have always been a cool symbol of the future, popularized by shows like The Jetsons with their stylish bubble-top sky cruisers. After decades of imagination and failed attempts, that dream is finally taking flight, thanks to Slovak designer Stefan Klein and his fully functional AirCar.

Klein has been designing flying cars since the late 1980s and gained attention in the mid-2010s with his roadable aircraft prototype, the AeroMobil. After the project shut down in 2023 due to a lack of funding, Klein didn’t give up. Instead, he returned with a new and more refined model: the AirCar.

Now, Klein Vision’s founders say the AirCar will be certified and ready for sale by early 2026. If that happens, it will mark the first flying car launch in 75 years, since the Aerocar, which briefly entered production in the 1950s.

Although many flying car efforts have stalled or failed, a new generation of companies is stepping up. Small manufacturers like Pal-V Liberty, Samson Switchblade, Aska A5, Alef Model A, and Doroni H1X are now racing to bring their models to market. Like Klein Vision, they’re facing serious technical and regulatory challenges, but all of them share the same goal: to make flying cars a reality finally.

A Lighter, Faster AirCar Nears Certification with Upgrades and $1M Price Tag

Since its maiden flight in 2021, the first AirCar prototype has logged 170 flight hours, completing over 500 takeoffs and landings. The second version is set to be 440 pounds lighter, thanks to a more advanced composite construction. It will be powered by a small aircraft engine from Adept, featuring FADEC (full-authority digital engine controls) for smoother, more intuitive flying.

“This will climb and fly faster than the prototype, and we’ve added a larger cockpit,” says co-founder Anton Zajac. The new AirCar will also feature Garmin avionics and is autopilot-ready. Its projected flight range is around 620 miles, with about 500 miles of range when driving on the ground. After completing 50 hours of test flights, it will qualify for an EASA airworthiness certificate, clearing the way for sales across Europe. Klein Vision also plans to expand to Asia and North America. Expected price: between $800,000 and $1 million.

Transforming this 19-foot-long coupe into an aircraft with a 27-foot wingspan takes around two minutes as the wings unfold, so it’s not quite as quick as dropping the top on a modern convertible. And since the cabin isn’t pressurized, flights are limited to an altitude of 10,000 feet. Still, that’s not far off the ceiling of a Cessna Skyhawk—and unlike the Cessna, you can drive the AirCar home after landing.

It might sound like a niche vehicle, but Klein Vision is betting big on the future of air mobility, an industry projected to be worth $162 billion by 2034.

The AirCar isn’t just aimed at wealthy thrill-seekers who’ve outgrown track days—it could also serve as a high-end option for taxi fleets. Though fares will likely be sky-high, it’s not targeting the average commuter. For now, at least, think of it as the uber-Uber for the one percent.