Florida Gov. launches test site for flying cars in Polk County
Key Points(5)
- Flying cars might sound like something out of The Jetsons, but Florida is getting ready to make them a reality.
- Ron DeSantis and state Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue have announced plans to create a new testing hub for advanced air mobility — a move they hope will attract next-generation air transport companies to the state.
- The state’s Department of Transportation will build the test site at its SunTrax facility in Polk County.
- The aerial test bed will feature two “vertiports,” designated takeoff and landing areas for electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft — vehicles that combine features of airplanes and helicopters and can travel short distances through the air.
- DeSantis, who described himself as “mildly excited” about the initiative, said the effort could help relieve traffic congestion along the I-4 corridor while positioning Florida as a national leader in futuristic urban mobility.
Flying cars might sound like something out of The Jetsons, but Florida is getting ready to make them a reality. Gov. Ron DeSantis and state Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue have announced plans to create a new testing hub for advanced air mobility — a move they hope will attract next-generation air transport companies to the state.
The state’s Department of Transportation will build the test site at its SunTrax facility in Polk County. The aerial test bed will feature two “vertiports,” designated takeoff and landing areas for electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft — vehicles that combine features of airplanes and helicopters and can travel short distances through the air.
DeSantis, who described himself as “mildly excited” about the initiative, said the effort could help relieve traffic congestion along the I-4 corridor while positioning Florida as a national leader in futuristic urban mobility.
“The idea would be, if they could do this to scale, if they can make it economical, it would take some traffic off the roads,” DeSantis said. “We’re just trying to have as many options as possible.”
Once cleared by federal regulators, the battery-powered VTOLs are expected to operate “like an Uber,” offering short-range flights — typically 60 miles or less — between urban centers. DeSantis added that the concept could also attract major private investment, saying Wall Street financiers are already taking notice of the growing industry.
Perdue, who has long advocated for advanced air mobility, said the new facility will allow private companies to accelerate innovation and bring flying cars to market faster. “The test facility will help the private sector quickly advance into the age of flying cars in Florida,” he said.
If successful, Florida could become one of the first states in the U.S. to establish infrastructure for routine, short-distance air travel — marking the beginning of a new chapter in how Floridians move between cities.
