Meet George Jetson? One South Florida CEO says it's time for flying cars
UPDATE: Doroni Aerospace has officially secured the FAA's special airworthiness certification.
This allows the company to conduct further research, fly outdoors and for development.
The aircraft has two seats and wheels to drive into a garage.
It is expected to have a range of 60 miles, with a speed of 140 miles per hour.
The owner says they are also working on another model with advanced design and features.
Earlier story follows:
MIAMI - South Florida drivers know traffic, and gridlock is their grumpy neighbor.
While some know how to fly around it, hundreds are paying for cars built to fly over roads. It is no prank.
Doroni Aerospace developed a model in its Pompano Beach warehouse. Drivers push three buttons, sit back, guide a joystick and a $300,000 computer-guided, electric propeller powered car flies.
"This is exactly the evolution of the aircraft," Doron Merdinger, CEO of Doroni Aerospace said.
"There's really no need to have all the bells and whistles because it works."
The Doroni is semi-automous, takes off, lands, dodges hazards in the air and hovers without human help. The car cruises at 200 feet above the ground. It's maker aims to produce the first consumer model of it's kind.
"We think this is for everyone," Merdinger said.
At least six competitors are developing flying cars for ride share.
The Federal Aviation Administration could clear models for takeoff in 2025.
Doroni Aerospace already has deposits from 300 customers who want to buy one.
"We see endless use cases," Merdinger said.
"It could be EMS. It could be police departments, surveying farming, (or) tourism."
In South Florida, beating traffic is a selling point, he said.
However, the Doroni's creator, who grew up dreaming of building his own Back to the Future-style time machine, sees a new way for people to enjoy nature above the trees but under the clouds.
"For me this is the biggest thing not really getting from point a to point b faster," Merdinger said.
"But for me, the minute that you go inside you've already arrived."
If the price is a turnoff and sounds like a toy for the wealthy, Merdinger said that is not by design.
Building costs drove up the price, he said.
Over time his company expects to produce smaller, more powerful, more affordable flying cars.
Doroni Aerospace is crowdfunding the project at doroni.io and is looking for investors.
