Uzbekistan has taken a step toward bringing flying cars to Central Asia after AIR Tashkent signed a memorandum of understanding with US aviation firm Samson Sky to introduce the Switchblade flying car to the country.
The agreement was announced during the opening of AIR Tashkent’s Easy to Fly Academy, a new training centre aimed at developing aviation professionals. Under the deal, the parties will explore the sale of at least 300 Switchblade vehicles in Uzbekistan, with a potential value exceeding $60 mln.
AIR Tashkent plans to make a bulk purchase of the hybrid road-air vehicles for pilot training and potential commercial use. Samson Sky will provide training support through simulators and help train mechanics, while also working with local authorities to certify the vehicle for road and air use.
The partnership was facilitated by Samson Sky ambassador and former aerobatic pilot Anna Grebenshchikova, who said the initiative began with efforts to expand private aviation in Uzbekistan and has since evolved into a broader push for advanced mobility solutions.
Samson Sky founder and CEO Sam Bousfield said the flying car could significantly improve regional connectivity.
«The Switchblade will bring Uzbekistan a tremendous benefit of rapid regional travel,» he said, highlighting potential efficiency gains for business and government travel.
AIR Tashkent deputy director Anvar Sulaymonov described the partnership as a milestone for general aviation.
«The joint efforts of AIR Tashkent and Samson Sky will lead to a significant breakthrough in the field of general aviation and provide a technological connection between the USA and Uzbekistan,» he said.
The Switchblade is a hybrid-electric vehicle designed to function both as a car and a small aircraft. It can be driven on public roads before converting into flight mode at an airport and has already completed its first flight in the United States, where production is underway.
If implemented, the project could position Uzbekistan among the early adopters of roadable aircraft, as the country continues to invest in aviation infrastructure and emerging mobility technologies.
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