Franky Zapata — the French inventor famous for his futuristic jet-powered Flyboard — is officially taking personal flight to a whole new level.
Zapata’s latest creation, the AirScooter, is a hybrid-electric, single-person aircraft designed to let almost anyone take to the skies with just a few hours of basic training. Priced at $250,000 and set to debut commercially in spring 2026, the AirScooter is already being hailed as one of the most accessible flying machines ever developed.
This $250,000 Zapata Air Scooter is the lightest single-person mobility vehicle.
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) November 23, 2025
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First introduced as a concept in 2023, the AirScooter feels like something out of a video game. The aircraft features an egg-shaped cockpit with a panoramic view, and instead of a traditional flight yoke, pilots use two handheld joysticks that look and feel like VR gaming controllers.
The aircraft is compact — small enough to fly from rooftops or open fields — and built from lightweight carbon fiber. With 14 electric motors powering 14 propellers, it weighs just 247 lbs and complies with the FAA’s Part 103 ultralight classification, meaning no pilot’s license is required in the U.S.
How Fast It Flies
Despite its playful controls, the AirScooter is a competent aircraft with serious performance:
- Cruise speed: 50 mph
- Top speed: 62 mph
- Flight time: More than 2 hours
- Range: Up to 99 miles
- Max altitude: 9,800 feet
A hybrid-electric power system handles vertical takeoff and landing with electric motors, then switches to a gasoline engine during cruise flight — a setup Zapata says gives the AirScooter the most extended flight duration of any VTOL aircraft on the market.
Zapata describes the AirScooter as the company’s first step toward making personal flight realistic for everyday people. “We are working towards mass-market flying machines,” he said. “Aircraft that are easy and safe to fly.”
Safety features include computer-assisted flight controls, automatic stabilization, and a distributed propulsion system that allows the aircraft to continue flying even if one or more motors fail.
The AirScooter completed its first manned flight on June 7, 2025, with Zapata at the controls after extensive unmanned testing. A month later, he attempted to cross the English Channel in the aircraft — a follow-up to his dramatic 2019 jetboard crossing — but a technical issue forced him to land early. Zapata has said he plans to try again.
Before the aircraft hits the market, Zapata Aviation will open its first AirScooter Flight Center near Las Vegas in early 2026. Visitors will be able to book supervised flights, get introductory training, and experience the aircraft without having to buy one.
The AirScooter will also be on public display on the Las Vegas Strip at the Paris Hotel from November 19 to 23, 2025.
Unlike other personal VTOL aircraft — many of which require a pilot’s license or lengthy training — the AirScooter is aimed squarely at recreational pilots, adventure seeker,s and anyone who’s dreamed of flying their own aircraft without the red tape.
With its approachable controls, safety desig,n and ultralight classification, the AirScooter may be the first personal flying vehicle that truly feels within reach for everyday enthusiasts.
And if Zapata’s track record is any indication, this could be just the beginning of a very different future for the skies.
