Technology and Scienceupdated 1h ago2 min read
Elon Musk Unveils Tesla Roadster Near Waco as FAA Says It Is Not an Aircraft
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Tesla unveiled a gravity-defying Roadster near Waco, Texas, featuring vertical takeoff and flight. FAA ruled the Roadster does not meet aircraft criteria and requires no airworthiness certificate.
8 outlets told this the same way.
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FAA draws a line
Elon Musk unveiled the Tesla Roadster near the city of Waco in Texas on Thursday in a promotional scene streamed online and widely shared on social media, and the vehicle lifted off from a vertical takeoff platform, made a full aerial spin, and landed on its wheels without any damage thanks to thrust reversers installed beneath the cabin and on the sides.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said on Friday that “the Tesla vehicle does not meet the definition of an aircraft used by the Federal Aviation Administration,” when asked whether the car should obtain a flight certificate.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stressed that Tesla should “ensure that this vehicle, which apparently deviates from the laws of physics, does not violate federal vehicle-safety regulations and that its drivers observe all local traffic rules.”
The BBC described social media debate around the Roadster’s ability to rise and land, while the FAA position narrowed the question to whether the vehicle fits the FAA’s aircraft definition rather than whether it can perform in the air.
Reservations, deposits, and limits
Tesla told customers that it cannot guarantee delivery of the new electric Roadster even if they pay a deposit, and the Vietnam.vn report said Tesla’s pre-order terms specify the actual delivery date while the model is still under development. Tesla’s reservation agreement, as described by Vietnam.vn, said the Roadster “is still under development,” and it also said customers are paying only to “reserve a spot.”
Tesla’s reservation terms also included a security deposit that Vietnam.vn said is fully refundable if the customer changes their mind or if Tesla is unable to deliver the car. The Vietnam.vn report added that the official purchase price was not yet disclosed and that even the specs could change between now and the official launch expected in 2028.
Engineering claims and speed
Tesla’s Roadster demonstration drew attention to a suction system and cold-gas thrusters, and the Car Dealership Guy News report said Musk claimed, “Flying cars are real.” The same Car Dealership Guy News report said Tesla described the Rocket as “not approved for public road use and will be available by invitation only,” and it tied the vehicle’s propulsion to cold-gas thrusters positioned around the perimeter for “forward and upward acceleration as well as lateral rotational movement.”
The Saudi شفت report framed the Roadster’s engineering around trims including Roadster, Performance, Thrust, and Rocket, and it said the Thrust trim relies on onboard gas thrusters with four rear thrusters connected to a compressed gas tank with a capacity of 200 liters. The Saudi شفت report also gave a target speed range, stating that “official sources confirm a target speed ranging between 370 and 483 km/h,” and it said the gas tank expends its energy completely in just 6 seconds before the driver must rely on electric motors alone.