No, you cannot currently use a flying car in any official time trial event. The concept remains firmly in the prototype and testing phase, with no commercially available, road-and-air-legal vehicle approved for competitive motorsport. While the idea is exciting, significant technological, regulatory, and safety hurdles must be overcome before a flying car could even be considered for a timed competition.
The primary barrier is the lack of a certified vehicle. Time trials, whether on a track or a hypothetical sky course, require vehicles that meet strict safety and performance standards set by bodies like the FIA or SCCA. Current eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) prototypes from companies like Alef Aeronautics, which has FAA approval for testing, or Joby Aviation are focused on achieving airworthiness certification for transportation, not racing. Their design priorities are stability, noise reduction, and efficiency, not the high-speed agility needed for a time trial.
Furthermore, the infrastructure for a "flying" time trial doesn't exist. It would require a three-dimensional race course with defined air gates, comprehensive air traffic control systems to prevent collisions, and emergency response plans for incidents in the air. The regulatory framework from aviation authorities like the FAA would be immensely complex, dealing with issues far beyond ground-based racing.
| Flying Car Model/Concept | Current Status | Key Challenge for Time Trials |
|---|
| Alef Model A | FAA-approved for testing, pre-orders open | Designed for road use, not high-performance maneuvering |
| Joby Aviation S4 | FAA airworthiness certification path | Focused on quiet, efficient passenger transport |
| PAL-V Liberty | Classified as a gyrocopter in Europe | Limited speed and agility compared to race cars |
| Slovakia AirCar | Completed inter-city flight tests | Requires runway, not VTOL; transition time is slow |
| Xpeng AeroHT | Demonstrated low-altitude flight | Early prototype stage, far from commercial or racing use |
Even if a vehicle existed, the nature of a time trial would change dramatically. Beating the clock would involve optimizing a flight path in three dimensions, dealing with wind currents, and managing energy for both lift and forward thrust. While it's a fascinating future possibility, today's time trials are strictly an earthbound pursuit.
