{{Short description|American eVTOL aircraft company}} {{Infobox company | name = LEO Flight Corporation | logo = File:LEO Flight Logo.png | image = | former_name = Urban eVTOL, LLC | type = Private | founded = {{start date and age|2021}} | founders = Pete Bitar<br>Carlos Salaff | location_city = Pendleton, Indiana | location_country = United States | industry = Aviation, eVTOL | products = LEO Coupe<br>LEO JetBike | homepage = {{URL|leoflight.com}} | footnotes = }}
'''LEO Flight Corporation''' (formerly '''Urban eVTOL, LLC''') is an American electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) company based in Pendleton, Indiana. Founded in 2021 by Pete Bitar and Carlos Salaff, the company develops personal flying vehicles using an electric jet propulsion system. Its products include the LEO Coupe and LEO JetBike.
== History ==
LEO Flight was founded as Urban eVTOL in 2021 by Pete Bitar and Carlos Salaff as a joint venture between Bitar's company Electric Jet Aircraft and Salaff's firm SALAFF Automotive.<ref name="RobbReport2021">{{cite news |last=Siebenmark |first=Jim |title=Forget the Chopper: This eVTOL Is Styled Like a Flying Sports Car That Parks in Your Garage |newspaper=Robb Report |date=August 10, 2021 |url=https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/evtol-styled-like-sportscar-1234629439/ |accessdate=}}</ref><ref name="NewAtlas2021">{{cite news |last=Blain |first=Loz |title=Urban eVTOL announces Leo, a 250-mph hypercar for the skies |newspaper=New Atlas |date=August 5, 2021 |url=https://newatlas.com/aircraft/urban-evtol-leo-air-hypercar/ |accessdate=}}</ref> In July that year, the company won a NASA HeroX award for its aerial mobility design as part of NASA's Convergent Aeronautics Solutions program.<ref name="HeraldBulletin">{{cite news |last=Bibbs |first=Rebecca R. |title=Bitar's team wins NASA competition, prepares flying car for launch in a few years |newspaper=The Herald Bulletin |date=September 22, 2021 |url=https://www.heraldbulletin.com/news/bitars-team-wins-nasa-competition-prepares-flying-car-for-launch-in-a-few-years/article_a9aad834-1b36-11ec-ab49-b76fc2bfd697.html |accessdate=}}</ref><ref name="Designboom">{{cite web |title=eVTOL LEO coupe is a jet turbine-propelled, 3-seater flying car |publisher=Designboom |date=June 28, 2022 |url=https://www.designboom.com/technology/evtol-leo-coupe-jet-turbine-propelled-flying-car-06-28-2022/ |accessdate=}}</ref> It also announced its first vehicle, the LEO Coupe, the same year.<ref name="RobbReport2021"/>
In June 2022, the company (now operating as LEO Flight) presented the LX-1, a crewed alpha prototype for the LEO Coupe. The prototype was an aluminum frame built to test the propulsion system, with 72 vertical-lift fans in four banks and two rear fans for horizontal thrust.<ref name="NewAtlas2022">{{cite news |last=Blain |first=Loz |title=LEO Flight reveals alpha prototype for its eVTOL flying hypercar |newspaper=New Atlas |date=June 22, 2022 |url=https://newatlas.com/aircraft/leo-flight-lx-1-prototype/ |accessdate=}}</ref> LEO Flight exhibited the coupe at CES 2024.<ref name="RobbReport2024">{{cite news |title=Flying Cars Are All the Rage at CES, and This Transformers-Style eVTOL Is Leading the Way |newspaper=Robb Report |date=January 11, 2024 |url=https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/flying-cars-taking-over-ces-las-vegas-1235466916/ |accessdate=}}</ref> At CES 2025, it presented its LEO Solo vehicle in a virtual reality presentation, with support from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.<ref name="AAM2025">{{cite web |last=Macey |first=Joe |title=LEO eVTOL Showcased at CES 2025 |publisher=Advanced Air Mobility International |date=January 10, 2025 |url=https://www.aaminternational.com/2025/01/leo-evtol-showcased-at-ces-2025/ |accessdate=}}</ref>
In January 2026, LEO Flight introduced the LEO JetBike at CES 2026, pre-orders of which had opened in November 2025.<ref name="NotebookCheck">{{cite web |last=Chien |first=David |title=Leo Flight displays the JetBike propeller-free electric air speeder to the public at CES 2026 |publisher=NotebookCheck |date=January 7, 2026 |url=https://www.notebookcheck.net/Leo-Flight-displays-the-JetBike-propeller-free-electric-air-speeder-to-the-public-at-CES-2026.1198633.0.html |accessdate=}}</ref>
== Vehicles == thumb|right| LEO Flight LX1-R Test Flight in Indiana (2025) thumb|right| LEO Flight LX-1 Tethered Hover Testing in Indiana LEO Flight develops electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles using ducted electric jet propulsion rather than exposed propellers. As of 2026, it has two vehicles in development: the LEO Coupe and LEO JetBike.<ref name="Electrek">{{cite news |last=Downing |first=Scooter |title=Check out the LEO JetBike a personal propeller-free eVTOL that anyone can fly |newspaper=Electrek |date=January 6, 2026 |url=https://electrek.co/2026/01/06/leo-jetbike-personal-propeller-free-evtol-anyone-can-fly/ |accessdate=}}</ref><ref name="NewAtlas2025">{{cite news |last=Blain |first=Loz |title=LEO Solo personal eVTOL is now available for preorder |newspaper=New Atlas |date=December 1, 2025 |url=https://newatlas.com/aircraft/leo-flight-solo-evtol/ |accessdate=}}</ref>
=== LEO Coupe ===
The LEO Coupe is a multi-passenger eVTOL designed to resemble a sports car. It uses a double box-wing configuration and is powered by approximately 200 clustered electric lift jets for vertical flight, with six horizontal thrusters at the rear for forward flight.<ref name="AviationWeek">{{cite news |last=Goldstein |first=Ben |title=LEO Flight Looks Ahead To Preproduction Flying Car Prototype |work=Aviation Week |date=March 10, 2023 |url=https://aviationweek.com/aerospace/advancedairmobilitydepartments/leo-flight-looks-ahead-preproduction-flying-car-prototype |accessdate=}}</ref> The vehicle measures 20 feet by 10 feet, which the company says allows it to fit in a standard two-car garage.<ref name="RobbReport2021"/> The exterior is carbon fiber, with wraparound windows, gull-wing doors, and a semi-autonomous fly-by-wire control system.<ref name="NewAtlas2021"/>
LEO Flight has stated a target cruise speed of 200 mph and a range of approximately 250 miles including reserves.<ref name="AviationWeek"/> The company plans to certify the vehicle under the FAA's MOSAIC framework for light sport aircraft.<ref name="AviationWeek"/>
=== LEO JetBike ===
The LEO JetBike is a motorcycle-style personal eVTOL that uses ducted electric jet propulsion rather than exposed propellers.<ref name="Electrek"/> Like the Solo, it is designed to operate under FAA Part 103 ultralight rules. The JetBike has a listed top speed of approximately 60 mph and a flight time of 10 to 15 minutes, with altitude electronically limited to about 15 feet.<ref name="Electrek"/> It is priced at $99,900, with deliveries expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026.<ref name="NotebookCheck"/>
== Specifications == === LEO Coupe === {{Aircraft specs |prime units?=imp |ref=''From the manufacturer''<ref name="LFCoupe">{{cite web |title=Leo Coupe |publisher=LEO Flight |url=https://www.leoflight.com/leo-coupe |accessdate=}}</ref> |crew=1 |capacity=2 passengers; 510 lb payload |length ft=20 |length in=0 |span ft=10 |span in=0 |height ft=4 |height in=7 |eng1 number=1 |eng1 type=Battery-electric clustered electric jets |cruise speed mph=200 |range miles=250 |more general=* Semi-autonomous fly-by-wire control system, EV-standard home and fast charging, FAA expanded light-sport certification; approximately 20 hours flight time required }}
=== LEO JetBike === {{Aircraft specs |prime units?=imp |ref=''From the manufacturer''<ref name="LFJetBike">{{cite web |title=JetBike |publisher=LEO Flight |url=https://www.leoflight.com/jetbike |accessdate=}}</ref> |crew=1 |length ft=6.5 |length in=0 |span ft=6.5 |span in=0 |eng1 number=1 |eng1 type=Solid-state battery-powered ducted electric jet propulsion |max speed mph=60 |endurance=10–15 minutes |more performance=* Altitude electronically limited to approximately 15 ft, Noise level approximately 80 dB |more general=* FAA Part 103 ultralight, no pilot's license required }}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|https://www.leoflight.com}}
Category:Aerospace companies of the United States Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 2021 Category:Technology companies established in 2021 Category:2021 establishments in Indiana Category:Pendleton, Indiana