From Highways to Skyways: Personal Aviation Takes Flight
- Personal flying machines, from ultralight eVTOLs to roadable aircraft, are beginning limited commercial sales and pre-orders under emerging FAA frameworks.
- Companies such as Volonaut, AeroMobil, Jetson, and XPENG are developing high-speed, partially automated aircraft, each taking a different approach to personal air mobility.
Picture this. You're running late for a board meeting across town. Traffic is gridlocked. So you walk to your garage, climb into what looks like a sleek sports car, and three minutes later, you're soaring 500 feet above the jam-packed highways below, cruising at 100 mph toward your destination. Think this is science fiction? Not anymore.
Right now, in 2025, you can walk into a showroom (or more likely, place an order online) and buy a flying car, a Star Wars-style speeder bike, or an autonomous air cab. These aren't prototypes or concept vehicles gathering dust in some tech billionaire's garage. These vehicles are being sold and flown today under FAA ultralight or experimental rules, while larger models are still working toward full certification.
This deep dive takes a look at the personal aerial transportation reshaping how we move through the world, powered by advanced materials, aerospace engineering, and AI-powered navigation systems that make flying as simple as driving.
