Alef Strikes Hollister Airport Test-Flight Deal for Flying Car Model Zero
Alef seeks a one-month trial at Hollister for Model Zero ultralight flights pending September 2025 council approval. Short, controlled runs (≤50 ft climb,
Alef will run one-month Model Zero ultralight trials at Hollister pending city council review in September 2025.
Each test: ground drive, vertical climb ≤50 ft, forward hop <200 ft, vertical landing — total ~2 minutes every two weeks.
Model Zero operates under FAA Part 103; Alef holds a Special Airworthiness Certificate for limited research flights.
(HOLLISTER) Alef Aeronautics has reached a new milestone in the flying car race, finalizing agreements to conduct test flights of its Model Zero at Hollister Municipal Airport. The move, confirmed in public statements and press materials dated August 26–28, 2025, brings Alef’s total test locations to five and adds a busy, non-towered airport in California’s Central Coast to its research program.
The Hollister plan follows a similar arrangement at Half Moon Bay Airport and is framed as a practical step toward showing that a road-capable aircraft can share space with conventional planes in public airspace. Alef’s team presented the proposal to the Hollister Airport Advisory Commission on August 13, 2025, and the commission directed staff to draft a one-month trial use agreement for city council review in September 2025. If approved, the tests would begin as short, highly controlled flights under the Federal Aviation Administration’s ultralight rules.
Alef Strikes Hollister Airport Test-Flight Deal for Flying Car Model Zero
Test profile and operational details
Alef says it will begin with its Model Zero Ultralight, the experimental platform used to prove core features before moving to commercial models.
Key elements of each test run:
– Ground driving from a staging area.
– A vertical takeoff to no more than 50 feet.
– A short forward flight below 200 feet.
– A vertical landing back on the airfield.
– Total time for the sequence: just over two minutes.
Planned rhythm and coordination:
– Alef expects about one test every two weeks during the initial period.
– Each run will be coordinated so that traditional aircraft at Hollister Municipal Airport keep full priority.
– The schedule and test profile are designed to be predictable and easy for local pilots to track.
– Alef will post regular alerts, monitor traffic patterns, and use onboard technology to spot obstacles and help keep the aircraft clear of other vehicles.
Important: The company says the human operator remains in charge and will stand down any run if a traditional aircraft approaches.
Safety, rules, and technology
Alef frames safety as the central pillar of the Hollister program.
Regulatory and operational constraints:
– Model Zero flights will follow the FAA’s Part 103 ultralight rules, which bar operations over congested areas and require visual-range operations.
– Alef will keep runs well away from people and property on the ground and use clear radio alerts.
– The company holds a Special Airworthiness Certificate for its prototype, which allows limited test flights for research and exhibition (but does not permit commercial passenger service).
Safety systems and procedures:
– Integration with normal airport flows so general aviation traffic can take off and land without delay.
– Use of AI-based obstacle recognition to add a supplemental protection layer during takeoff, transition, and landing.
– Regular pre-flight alerts, weather and visibility reviews, and coordination with airport staff.
– Planned flight paths designed to avoid potential conflicts.
📝 Note
Before any Hollister test, verify and document the exact one-month window, required approvals, and the flight script to ensure all stakeholders agree on timing and procedures.
Alef and local officials emphasize that a non-towered field provides a practical environment for experimentation.
Benefits of testing at Hollister Municipal Airport:
– Active pilot community and common radio-call patterns allow testing of procedures in realistic conditions.
– Less complexity than controlled, towered airports, enabling focus on safe integration with training aircraft and weekend flyers.
– Staff and city oversight enable a step-by-step trial monitored by the city, the airport, and the FAA.
Airport Director Jeff Crechriou is overseeing the agreement process, and the city council’s September decision will determine whether the one-month pilot proceeds.
Technical and commercial roadmap
Alef pairs regulatory steps with technical milestones.
Model Zero prototype performance (research-oriented):
– Vertical flight range: about 6 miles
– Horizontal flight range: about 15 miles
– Drive range on the ground: roughly 50 miles
Planned commercial Model A (two occupants):
– Air range: about 110 miles
– Drive range: near 200 miles
– Target price:$300,000
– Preorders: more than 3,300
Flight modes and mechanics:
– Two modes: rotorcraft mode (speeds up to about 17 mph) and biplane mode (speeds up to about 86 mph).
– Mode change achieved by rotating the vehicle 90 degrees so the trunk and hood act like wings.
Production timeline:
– Alef says it remains on track to start building the first commercial Model A by late 2025 or early 2026, contingent on approvals and manufacturing scale-up.
Company leadership and investors:
– CEO Jim Dukhovny
– Founders Dr. Constantine Kisly, Pavel Markin, and Oleg Petrov
– Investors include Draper Associates, Impact VC, Chinney Alliance, and others
The trial is deliberately scripted to produce consistent data for regulators and the community.
Planned sequence of events:
1. Alef presented to the airport commission on August 13, 2025.
2. The commission directed staff to draft a one-month trial use agreement.
3. The city council is scheduled to review the draft in September 2025.
4. If approved, tests would start using the Model Zero Ultralight under strict safety and notice procedures.
5. Alef, the airport, and the FAA would collect integration and safety data.
6. If results are positive, the company may expand testing to more models and demonstrations.
The flight script for each Model Zero run:
– Short drive from staging area → vertical climb to ≤ 50 feet → forward hop below 200 feet → vertical landing back to the same pad.
– Target time: just over two minutes.
– Alef will issue alerts before each flight, review weather/visibility, and confirm no conflicts with airport staff.
– If conflict arises, the flight stands down.
Community impact and public reaction
The trial is designed to minimize local impact while gathering useful data.
Mitigation measures:
– Low frequency: roughly one flight every two weeks, limiting noise and activity.
– Very short flight time and a tight flight footprint to keep operations over controlled areas.
– Prioritization of traditional traffic to preserve normal airport use.
– Use of alerts, checklists, and AI obstacle detection to supplement routine pilot procedures.
Local officials have voiced support for controlled trials that let the city weigh real-world effects on airport users and nearby homes. City staff will monitor:
– How runs affect traffic flows at the airport.
– Whether traffic holds are needed during takeoff and landing.
– Effectiveness of Alef’s communication with pilots and airport users.
⚠️ Important
Do not assume FAA clearance extends to commercial use; Model Zero is a test article under Part 103 and may be halted if safety or traffic coordination deteriorates.
Industry context and broader implications
Analysts view trials at airports like Hollister as a crucial bridge from demos to everyday use.
Market sizing cited by Alef:
– Global advanced air mobility market estimated at $11.5 billion in 2024, potentially growing to $73.5 billion by 2034.
Why trials matter:
– Measure fit with common traffic flows and airfield procedures.
– Test how airfield staff handle notifications and pilots respond.
– Provide FAA and regulators with data to inform future rulemaking under frameworks such as MOSAIC.
– Help companies demonstrate safety and reliability to prospective customers and communities.
For regular coverage on advanced air mobility regulation and airport-based trials, see VisaVerge.com.
Important reminders and takeaways
Alef stresses that the Model Zero remains a test article. These trials are not public commercial service—rather, they are short, structured flights meant to gather evidence on safe operations and integration with conventional aircraft.
Critical upcoming milestone:
– The September 2025 city council review in Hollister will determine whether the one-month trial proceeds.
Possible council outcomes:
– Green light → one-month trial begins with scheduled two-minute runs monitored by Alef, the airport, and the FAA.
– Conditional or delayed review → Alef would adjust and return with an updated plan.
If successful, the trial will provide:
– A record of repeated, uneventful runs to refine procedures and support certification.
– Practical examples for pilots in the pattern on how a roadable aircraft behaves.
– Data for the FAA and local leaders to weigh longer-term access and future demonstrations.
Final perspective
Alef’s Hollister initiative is presented as a measured, safety-first approach to proving a flying car can coexist with conventional aviation at a public airport. By combining short vertical climbs, tight circuits below 200 feet, strict coordination with airport users, and AI-assisted obstacle recognition, the company aims to build repeatable evidence that supports future approvals and commercial ambitions such as the Model A.
Model Zero → Alef’s experimental road-capable ultralight aircraft used to prove core flight and driving features during testing.
FAA Part 103 → U.S. Federal Aviation Administration rules governing ultralight vehicles, limiting weight, operations, and prohibiting flights over congested areas.
Special Airworthiness Certificate → A limited FAA authorization permitting flight of prototype aircraft for research, development, or exhibition, not commercial passenger service.
Ultralight → A very light, single-occupant aircraft category in U.S. aviation law allowing simpler rules but restricting where and how it can operate.
AI-based obstacle recognition → Artificial intelligence systems that detect and warn of obstacles during takeoff, transition, and landing to enhance safety.
Non-towered airport → An airport without an active control tower where pilots use common radio procedures to coordinate takeoffs and landings.
Model A → Alef’s planned two-occupant commercial roadable aircraft with longer air and drive ranges and a target price of $300,000.
MOSAIC → FAA program framework aimed at streamlining certification and operations for advanced air mobility vehicles and new aircraft types.
This Article in a Nutshell
Alef Aeronautics plans a one-month trial of its Model Zero Ultralight at Hollister Municipal Airport, pending city council review in September 2025. The scripted tests—ground drive, vertical climb to ≤50 feet, brief forward flight under 200 feet, and vertical landing—will last just over two minutes and occur roughly every two weeks under FAA Part 103 rules and a Special Airworthiness Certificate. Alef will coordinate to keep conventional aircraft priority, issue alerts, use AI obstacle recognition, and stand down flights if conflicts arise. The trial aims to gather integration and safety data to inform regulators and support future demonstrations and commercialization of the Model A. Reported performance: Model Zero vertical range ~6 miles, horizontal ~15 miles, drive ~50 miles; Model A target: 110-mile air range, 200-mile drive range, $300,000 price and 3,300+ preorders.
As a Breaking News Reporter at VisaVerge.com, Shashank Singh is dedicated to delivering timely and accurate news on the latest developments in immigration and travel. His quick response to emerging stories and ability to present complex information in an understandable format makes him a valuable asset. Shashank's reporting keeps VisaVerge's readers at the forefront of the most current and impactful news in the field.
