F1 of the SKIES! Flying cars go head-to-head in a race through the air

It sounds like a scene right out of the latest science–fiction blockbuster.

But flying car races are now a reality, as the ‘Formula One of the skies’ holds its first–ever event. 

Incredible footage shows four flying cars head–to–head in a winding race around an aerial track, as part of the ‘Jetson Air Games’. 

Each pilot was driving a Jetson One, a personal electric aircraft with a terrifying top speed of 63 miles per hour (102 km/h) and a range of up to 20 miles (32 km). 

In a video of the race, the cars lift off at the starting line before careening into the course, executing tight turns and perilous overtakes. 

Jetson says this first race was just a proof of concept for what a competitive format might look like for their futuristic flying machines. 

But on social media, fans are already demanding to see more. 

‘Hell yes! This is what we were promised back in the 80s. We need more of this,’ one fan enthusiastically wrote. 

The race took place at the UP.Summit in Texas, where Jetson demonstrated its flying car’s abilities.

In addition to hosting the very first race, pilots also took part in the first four–person formation flight.

Tomasz Patan, Jetson’s co–founder, who also took part in the race, says: ‘The energy from the crowd was incredible.

‘It was a proud moment for our team and a clear signal that Jetson is ready to lead the next chapter in aviation.’

The company is yet to confirm when or where it will be hosting its next race, or to provide details about its plans for the Jetson Air Games.

However, fans have already begun to clamour for more races.

On YouTube, one commenter wrote: ‘Never could have thought this became reality in my lifetime … What a time to be alive!!!!’

‘This is something I thought was a thing of sci–fi when I was a kid! It’s now a reality,’ another commenter wrote.

Another chimed in: ‘I remember the first time I saw one of these I thought it was a miracle. Now it’s becoming something attainable it’s crazy.’

However, many tech enthusiasts were also extremely concerned about how safe this kind of race might be.

One concerned fan wrote: ‘When and if this becomes a genuinely competitive sport then this will be more lethal than F1!’

Another wrote: ‘5000rpm propellers with open cockpit and no propeller guards giving me shivers.’

While one commenter joked: ‘The words ‘Everyone is a pilot’ should scare the heck out of everyone who actually is a pilot.’ 

The Jetson One is a single–passenger e–VTOL vehicle which uses eight powerful rotors to provide lift. 

With a carbon fibre and aluminium frame, the octo–copter weighs just 115 kg, 60 kg of which comes from the massive batteries. 

That allows the Jetson One to provide about 20 minutes of flight time up to a height of 1,500 feet (457 metres) above ground level.

In order to keep the pilot safe, Jetson says that the vehicle can safely fly with only one propeller and automatically land in case of an emergency. 

Each Jetson One is also fitted with a ballistic parachute, which can shoot out of the roof to slow a potentially dangerous fall.

However, this performance doesn’t come cheap – the vehicle currently costs $128,000 (£95,380) with prices planned to rise to $148,000 (£110,290) on November 3. 

Perhaps the most surprising feature is that you don’t need a pilot’s licence to fly one of these craft in the US. 

The company’s motto is ‘everyone is a pilot’, and its extremely easy–to–use and lightly regulated aircraft are helping make that a reality. 

After launching in October 2021, the first available models immediately sold out, and the company is now accepting orders for delivery in 2028.

The company delivered its first commercial model in September to the defence–tech entrepreneur Palmer Luckey.

According to Jetson, Mr Luckey was able to complete the ground training in just 50 minutes and was then free to fly. 

Jetson says it currently has nearly 550 outstanding orders and has total future sales reaching $75 million (£55.9 million).

Recently, the company completed a series of trials with the Polish Mountain Rescue Service, testing the aircraft in real–life emergency situations.

Despite winds gusting up to 36 miles per hour, the Jetson One was able to deploy and manoeuvre through the remote Tatra Mountains.

The vehicle is still subject to flying restrictions, which vary from country to country, meaning it can’t currently be flown in cities. 

But the founders believe this will change as people open their minds to travel by flight, not road.

Co–founder Peter Ternström previously told Daily Mail: Going forward, we want to make big cities better places to live.

‘For our children, the cities can be greener — there won’t be space needed for loads of parking and roads because it’s all going up in the air.

‘People think it’s crazy, but believe me, evolution happens quickly. Our goal is to make everyone a pilot within a decade.’