Alef, a California-based automotive and aviation company, has finalized agreements with two Silicon Valley airports to test operations of the world’s first flying car. The test model, Model Zero, will evaluate its operational capability alongside other aircraft at Half Moon Bay and Hollister airports. Designed to seamlessly switch between road driving and vertical takeoff, the vehicle offers a glimpse into a new era of urban mobility.
Alef’s first lift off
Founded in 2015, Alef Aeronautics aims to address urban congestion by merging road vehicles with vertical flight capabilities. After years of development, the company revealed its prototype in 2022, quickly earning FAA Special Airworthiness Certification in 2023. Unlike other electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, Alef’s flying car is designed to function as both a drivable car and a flying vehicle, requiring minimal changes to existing infrastructure.
Alef has since moved forward with plans to commercialize its vehicle, known as Model A. With support from investors such as Tim Draper, the company is refining its unique design that features a lightweight body, hidden propellers, and a rotatable cabin to enable smooth transition between road driving and flight. Draper, through Draper Associates and Draper B1, has invested around $3 million of seed money to Alef. Other investors include Impact VC, Chinney Alliance with about $20 million, Bronco Ventures, and SplashVC.
Navigating the road-to-sky mobility space
The global eVTOL aircraft market size is approximated at $0.76 billion in 2024 and is forecasted to grow to $4.67 billion by 2030. Alef is not alone in pursuing the flying car dream. Many companies in the urban air mobility sector, such as Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation, and Lilium, are developing eVTOL aircraft aimed at air taxi services. However, these designs generally require dedicated vertiports and cannot operate on regular roads.
Other flying car projects exist, such as the Klein Vision AirCar in Slovakia and XPeng’s X2 in China, but they are still in earlier stages of certification and deployment (See also: Volonaut’s Airbike and the patent race for personal flight). Alef’s flying car model distinguishes itself as the first vehicle that combines road legality with electric vertical flight, positioning it uniquely between traditional cars and air taxis. This dual-use advantage could allow Alef to capture early market adoption before infrastructure-heavy air mobility solutions become widespread.
Alef: Patenting Activity
Alef has 3 patent filings (2 granted patents and a patent application) since its founding and these can be grouped into the following:
| Patent Family | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
| US11485489 | Systems and methods for functionality and controls for a VTOL flying car | 2020-03-27 | 2020-03-27 |
| US11485490 | System and methods for providing vertical take off and landing and forward flight in a small personal aircraft | 2020-03-27 | 2020-03-27 |
These patents are a product of roughly five years in research and development. After a Science Fiction lecture in 2015, Jim Dukhovny met with his friends-turned-cofounders Dr. Konstantine Kisly, Pavel Markin, and Oleg Petrov discussing how flying cars are finally possible that year. A year after, the first sub-scale prototype was built.
After a demonstration with Tim Draper who became the pioneering investor, the team expanded and was able to build and fly the first full-size “skeleton” model in 2018.. Finally in 2019, a full-size prototype was flown.
Alef: Top Technology Area
Alef has been focused on one primary technology classification. All of their patent filings are under B64C, which describes aeroplanes and helicopters. For the context of flying cars, their main classification falls under aircraft (B64C29/02) that are capable of landing or taking-off vertically, having its flight directional axis vertical when grounded.
Patents driving the flying car
Alef was originally called Armada Aeronautics before fully rebranding in 2022. Along with this rebranding is their shift on the look and feel of their flying car. Hirash Razaghi, a famous exterior and interior Bugatti and Jaguar designer from Sweden, was hired to define the modern, sporty exterior design of the car, making it appealing to public consumers.
Rectangular-wing VTOL flying car
U.S. Patent No. 11,485,489 describes a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft that introduces a rectangular wing structure designed to enhance lift, stability, and efficiency in both road and air operation. The configuration includes upper and lower wing sections with asymmetrical airfoil designs for lift, and vertical side wings with symmetrical profiles for yaw stability.
The design integrates elevons and rudders for maneuverability, as well as multiple electric propellers mounted within a rigid carbon-fiber reinforced support frame shaped with X-bracing to distribute forces and dampen vibration. Lightweight materials, including carbon fiber ribs, longerons, and panels, contribute to structural strength while reducing weight. With the addition of steering wheels, this VTOL is capable of operating as a conventional automobile on the ground and as a stable, efficient aircraft in flight, addressing the challenge of seamless dual-mode transportation.
The patent, titled “Systems and methods for functionality and controls for a VTOL flying car,” was filed on March 27, 2020, and was granted on November 1, 2022. The patent listed Konstantin Kisly, Oleg Petrov, Pavel Markin, and Yevgeniy Dukhovny as inventors. Alef was represented by Michael Dergosits, Richard Nebb, Todd Noah et al from Dergosits & Noah LLP.
Advanced VTOL flying car with improved stability and efficiency
Despite the industry’s years of research and development, the landscape of flying cars still presents challenges. U.S. Patent No. 11,485,490 improves the VTOL aircraft by focusing more on lateral stability and aerodynamic refinements. It introduces corner sections that smoothly transition forces between horizontal and vertical wings, shifting the aerodynamic center aft for better balance.
The VTOL described in the patent specifies round cross-section longerons to reduce structural stress while maintaining a lightweight profile. The propulsion system is further optimized, with engines mounted on both the frame and stabilizing members to better distribute forces and manage vibration.
The design also emphasizes aerodynamic tubing profiles for the frame, reducing drag compared to standard supports. While U.S. Patent No. 11,485,489 highlights yaw and longitudinal stability, this patent expands stability control by addressing lateral forces, making the design more robust in varied flight conditions.
The patent, titled “System and methods for providing vertical take off and landing and forward flight in a small personal aircraft,” was filed on March 27, 2020, and was granted on November 1, 2022. The patent lists the same inventors as the ’489 patent. Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP represented Alef in the patent filing.
Looking Ahead
Alef plans to scale its airport trials throughout California and beyond, working with regulators to define the framework for flying car operations. Its roadmap includes customer deliveries of the Model A by 2026 priced at around $300,000, and with plans for more affordable models in the future.
*Featured images used are from Alef’sPress Kit.
