Personal Flying Car Takes Deposits for 2027 Launch

Stuck in traffic and daydreaming about flying over it all? That fantasy might become reality sooner than you think.

Michigan startup Velo X Aerospace is now accepting $5,000 deposits for the Velocitor X-1, a personal flying vehicle set to enter production in early 2027. The company has already sold 56 of its first 100 units at $156,000 each.

The single-passenger aircraft takes off and lands vertically like a helicopter, using eight electric propellers mounted on four arms. It cruises at 70 miles per hour and can fly for one hour on a single six-hour charge, with a 15-minute safety reserve.

What makes the X-1 different from typical aircraft is its accessibility. According to Velo X, if you can handle a motorcycle or snowmobile, you can fly this vehicle. The semi-automated flight system combines pilot input with computer assistance to make flying intuitive for newcomers.

Safety features address the biggest concern about personal aircraft. A LiDAR system detects and avoids obstacles like power lines and trees automatically. Multiple backup propellers, motors, and batteries ensure redundancy if one component fails.

If something does go catastrophically wrong, a ballistic parachute deploys automatically even from as low as 50 feet. The pilot sits in an ultra-strong composite seat with a four-point harness for added protection.

The company has already tested three different prototype platforms. President Galen Geigley says flight testing will resume in the coming weeks after upgrades to propellers and motors.

The Ripple Effect

Personal eVTOL aircraft represent more than just a cool toy for tech enthusiasts. They could transform how we think about commuting, especially in areas where traffic congestion costs hours of lost time each day. As more companies bring these vehicles to market, infrastructure and regulations will adapt, potentially opening the skies to everyday transportation.

The technology also drives innovation in electric propulsion, battery efficiency, and automated safety systems that benefit aviation broadly. Each successful test flight brings us closer to a future where three-dimensional travel becomes normal.

Only 44 of the first 100 Velocitor X-1s remain available for those ready to be early adopters of personal flight.