Samson Switchblade

{{Short description|American roadable aircraft}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Use American English|date=January 2022}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = Switchblade | logo = | logo_size = | image = Samson SG1P Switchblade (N155SB, cn 001) (7-29-2023).jpg | alt = | caption = SG1P Switchblade at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in 2023 | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Amateur-built roadable aircraft | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = United States | manufacturer = Samson Sky | design_group = | designer = Sam Bousfield | builder = | issuer = | status = Building pre-production prototypes (2025) | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = 2009 as a mock-up | retired = | first_flight = 9 November 2023 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }} The '''Samson Switchblade''' is an American roadable aircraft under development by Samson Sky of Redmond, Oregon. A single gasoline engine powers two propellers in flight mode. In drive mode, the wings, tail and propellers fold into the vehicle body and the vehicle is driven as a Motorized tricycle.<ref name="New2024Design">{{cite news|url = https://www.autoevolution.com/news/switchblade-flying-car-gets-an-enhanced-body-design-as-it-nears-production-phase-242374.html|title = Switchblade Flying Car Gets an Enhanced Body Design As It Nears Production Phase|accessdate = 29 July 2024|last = Iosub|first = Ancuta|date = 6 November 2024| work = autoevolution}}</ref> Switchblade will be sold as an amateur-built aircraft, with buyers building 51% of the vehicle at Samson's production facility and Samson completing the build.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://generalaviationnews.com/2024/11/06/enhanced-body-design-revealed-for-switchblade-flying-car/|title = Enhanced body design revealed for Switchblade flying car|accessdate = 29 July 2024|date = 6 November 2024| work = General Aviation News}}</ref>

==Design and development== The Switchblade design is the brainchild of Samson CEO Sam Bousfield. Switchblade was publicly introduced at AirVenture in 2009 as a mock-up built by aeronautical design firm DAR Corp of Lawrence, Kansas.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.darcorp.com/projects/samson-motorworks-switchblade/|title = Samson Motorworks Switchblade Mockup|accessdate = 7 April 2025}}</ref> First flight of the full-sized aircraft was originally forecast in 2009 for 2010, but by July 2012 only a 1/4 scale model had been flown.<ref name="Grady25Apr09">{{cite news|url = https://www.avweb.com/air-shows-events/flying-motorcycle-prototype-coming-soon-company-says|title = "Flying Motorcycle" Prototype Coming Soon, Company Says|accessdate = 29 July 2024|last = Grady|first = Mary|date = 25 April 2009| work = AVweb}}</ref><ref name="PR14Jul12">{{cite web|url = http://www.samsonmotorworks.com/910|title = Switchblade Update|accessdate = 15 October 2012|last = Samson Motorworks|date =14 July 2012}}</ref> In February 2014 the design had passed through the final round of wind tunnel testing, and in March 2014 the first carbon fiber parts were made for the conforming flying prototype.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.samsonmotorworks.com/1521|title = Switchblade Update}}</ref>

By February 2016, the carbon fiber wings and folding mechanism had been prototyped.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://generalaviationnews.com/2016/02/20/switchblade-flying-car-development-advances/|title=Switchblade flying car development advances|author=General Aviation News Staff|work=General Aviation News|accessdate=26 February 2016}}</ref>

By July 2018, the company was redesigning the tail in preparation for a first flight by year end and claimed 667 orders for the design.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.avweb.com/ownership/switchblade-nears-first-flight|title = Switchblade Nears First Flight|access-date = 29 July 2024|last = Niles|first = Russ|work = AVweb|date = 24 July 2018}}</ref>

In July 2019, the company was still working towards a first flight and AVweb described the project as "One of the longest in-development flying car projects" and noted that the manufacturer "is still at it", after ten years in development.<ref name="Bertorelli26Jul19">{{cite web|url = https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/samson-switchblade-shows-off-a-new-panel/|title = Samson Switchblade Shows Off A New Panel|access-date = 27 July 2019|last = Bertorelli|first = Paul|work = AVweb|date = 26 July 2019|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20190727124205/https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/samson-switchblade-shows-off-a-new-panel/|archivedate = 27 July 2019}}</ref>

The official first flight came on November 9, 2023 at Grant County International Airport (KMWH) in Lake Moses, Washington. The vehicle was airborne for six minutes and reached an altitude of 500 feet.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.phonandroid.com/cette-voiture-volante-qui-peut-etre-rangee-dans-votre-garage-reussit-son-premier-vol.html|title=Cette voiture volante qui peut être rangée dans votre garage réussit son premier vol|work=phonandroid.com|date=November 11, 2023|access-date=July 29, 2024}}</ref> It achieved its ground speed target but failed to reach its target air speed. This led to a redesign in 2024 with larger wings and the replacement of the large ducted fan with two smaller propellers that fold into the fuselage along with the tail when in drive mode.<ref name="New2024Design"/> The new, sleeker, design was validated by wind tunnel testing and Samson is now building prototypes for flight testing and marketing.

thumb|right|Render of 2024 redesign in flight modethumb|right|Render of 2024 redesign in drive modeThe Switchblade will be a three-wheeled motorized tricycle-type vehicle with forward retracting wings. It features two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration in an enclosed cockpit with space for {{convert|50|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} of baggage, fixed tricycle landing gear and a single engine powering two propellers in pusher configuration for flight that will also drive the rear wheels on the ground. Early designs included a canard surface.<ref name="WDLA11">Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12'', page 118. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X</ref>

The aircraft is made from composites and its fuselage shape was inspired by Ferrari automotive designs. Its {{convert|26.9|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} span wing has an area of {{convert|99|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} and fits slotted flaps. For ground use, the wings fold forward under the aircraft's belly into a clamshell case and the tail and propellers fold forward into the rear fuselage, protecting them from road debris. There is an impact-absorbing steel structural keel. Due to differing angle of incidence requirements and the large rear road wheels, the nose will be raised 4° for take-off, eliminating the need to rotate the vehicle in aircraft mode. The powerplant is a hybrid system, with a gasoline engine powering an electrical generator that powers motors from Slovenian company Beyond Motors.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.samsonsky.com/parts-parts-and-more-parts/|title = Parts, parts and more parts!|accessdate = 7 April 2025|last = Samson Sky|date = 28 February 2025}}</ref>

The vehicle will require a motorcycle or automobile driver's license to operate on the ground and a minimum of a private pilot license to fly.<ref name="Home">{{cite web|url = http://www.samsonmotorworks.com/switchblade|title = Switchblade - Point-to-Point Transportation|accessdate = 15 October 2012|last = Samson Motorworks|year = 2012}}</ref>

==Specifications (projected performance) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=Bayerl, AVweb and Samson<ref name="WDLA11" /><ref name="Grady25Apr09" /><ref name="Specs">{{cite web|url = https://www.samsonsky.com/models/|title = Features & Specs|accessdate = 7 April 2025|last = Samson Sky|year = 2025}}</ref> |prime units?=imp  |genhide=

|crew=one |capacity=one passenger |length m= |length ft=16.8 |length note=in ground mode, {{convert|20.2|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} in air mode |span m= |span ft=26 |span in=9 |span note= |height m= |height ft=5 |height in=1 |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft=99 |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=1275 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb=1850 |gross weight note= |fuel capacity={{convert|40|u.s.gal}} |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Samson |eng1 type=three cylinder, liquid-cooled engine |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=190

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh= |max speed mph=200 |max speed kts= |max speed note=in the air, {{convert|100|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}} on the ground |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph=160 |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note=in the air |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph=67 |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km= |range miles=500 |range nmi= |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft=13000 |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin= |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |sink rate ms= |sink rate ftmin= |sink rate note= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft=23 |wing loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics= *7″ Dynon Skyview *10″ Dynon Skyview *Garmin AERA 550 *Garmin GMA 340 *Garmin SL30 *Garmin GTX 330. }}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} *{{Official website|https://www.samsonsky.com/}} {{Flying cars}}

Category:Homebuilt aircraft Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft Category:Roadable aircraft Category:Aircraft first flown in 2023