Dream of owning a flying car? This California company is already selling them

Los Angeles Times ^ | Jan. 30, 2026 3 AM PT | Caroline Petrow-Cohen

[E. Pluribus Unum]

• Pivotal’s eVTOL aircraft dubbed Helix is available to order online for $190,000, with deliveries expected within a year.

• Buyers don’t need a pilot’s license to operate the aircraft, though they must complete training and take an FAA knowledge test.

• An advocacy organization has raised safety concerns over crowded airspace.

A future with flying cars is no longer science fiction — all you need to order your own is about $200,000 and some hope and patience.

The Palo Alto-based company Pivotal has been developing the technology since 2009 and is nearly ready to bring it to market. The company’s founder Marcus Leng was the first to fly in its real-life version of a flying car in 2011.

Leng engineered an ultralight, electric-powered vertical takeoff and landing aircraft known as an eVTOL. Other VTOL aircraft, such as helicopters, had existed for decades, but Leng’s invention was fixed-wing and didn’t rely on gas.

The Canadian engineer dubbed his creation BlackFly and spent years working on it in secret. The company moved to the Bay Area in 2014 and by 2018 had developed a second version of BlackFly that laid the groundwork for Helix, the aircraft Pivotal now offers for sale.

“The company kind of came out of stealth at that point and said, ‘This is what we’re up to,’ ” said Pivotal Chief Executive Ken Karklin, who took over company leadership from Leng in 2022.

Those who are curious — and wealthy — can reserve a Helix today with a $50,000 deposit. The aircraft starts at $190,000 with the option of purchasing a transport trailer for $21,000 and a charger for $1,100.

A customer who makes their reservation today could receive their aircraft in nine to 12 months, Karklin said. It...

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TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: california; car; flying; jetsons

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Just wow...

[bigbob]

Unless it folds up into a briefcase, I’m waiting for the George Jetson model.

[TexasGator]

Part 103: Operation over congested areas (cities, towns, open-air assemblies) is prohibited.

[SaveFerris]

[$190,000]

Okay. Lessee, I have $18 on me....

Wait, there’s change over by the TV 📺 😉😄

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Part 103: Operation over congested areas (cities, towns, open-air assemblies) is prohibited.

Those eight unguarded whirring Waring Blender blades are enough for me.

[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

--- "A customer who makes their reservation today could receive their aircraft in nine to 12 months, Karklin said. "

Or Pivotal can go on until it runs out of venture capital and then announces bankruptcy. Remember those beautiful DeLoreans in the beginning of the 80s?

Ask: 1) Who insures when in the air? Who regulates air space and follows FAA rules and the like? 3) Who warranties the product? 4) What happens to warranties if the company does not last?

This announcement surely seems like a lure, the hook baited for more venture capital folks .....

[Signalman]

Try flying your car into Class B airspace over LAX and see what happens. The whole concept of flying cars is idiotic.

[MileHi]

Electric? No thanks

[irishjuggler]

The Jetson One is pretty nifty...
https://jetson.com/

[frank ballenger]

Californians have been flying for a long time——marijuana legalized for medical uses 1996 and recreational use in 2016.
🤩💭💭💭💭

[lee martell]

Useless, dangerous but still impressive.

[dfwgator]

[frank ballenger]

The Man With the Golden Gun.

With Britt Eklund in the “boot”. AMC Matador sales never took off, though.

https://www.google.com/search?q=images+flying+car+in+man+with+the+golden+gun&sca_esv=ff6e3792612b1665&udm=2&biw=1316&bih=621&aic=0&ei=_oF-aaiWEpbIp84P_MON6Q8&ved=0ahUKEwiojarY6baSAxUW5MkDHfxhI_0Q4dUDCBI&oq=images+flying+car+in+man+with+the+golden+gun&gs_lp=Egtnd3Mtd2l6LWltZyIsaW1hZ2VzIGZseWluZyBjYXIgaW4gbWFuIHdpdGggdGhlIGdvbGRlbiBndW5IAFAAWABwAHgAkAEAmAEAoAEAqgEAuAEMyAEAmAIAoAIAmAMAkgcAoAcAsgcAuAcAwgcAyAcAgAgA&sclient=gws-wiz-img

[al baby]

They misspelled Helicopter

[SaveFerris]

(AMC Matador)

I think we had a four-door for driver’s ed for a little while - yeah I got to drive it

The two-door was nicer-looking

I also saw the movie

[Larry Lucido]

[SaveFerris]

I think a dog walker on the edge of a high-rise is a really bad idea

[FlingWingFlyer]

Wait until these puppies start running into airliners. This is gona get good.

[SaveFerris]

🤣🤣🤣