Forget potholes and traffic jams – the sky’s the new M25.
If you've ever dreamed of soaring above gridlock in something that isn’t a drone, a jetpack, or a Ryanair flight delayed by three hours, then meet the LEO Flight Solo & Coupe – the personal electric VTOL aircraft that’s essentially your own flying sports car. Yes, this is real life.
What Is It?
The LEO Flight Solo is a single-passenger electric VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) aircraft. Think of it as the rebellious lovechild of a drone and a Lotus Elise. Its bigger sibling, the LEO Coupe, offers two seats, more power, and a price tag that could make your mortgage feel like a minor inconvenience.
Key Specs – Solo:
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Top speed: 63 mph
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Range: 20 miles (depending on wind, bravery, and sheer optimism)
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Weight: Under 300 kg
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Flight time: Around 20 minutes
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Controls: Joystick – like your Xbox, but the stakes are significantly higher
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Price: $99,999 (around £79,000, or the cost of one and a half Range Rovers that don’t fly)
Key Specs – Coupe:
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Seats two – in case your partner is feeling adventurous
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Extended range and upgraded tech
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Price: $459,900 (roughly £370,000 – or a four-bedroom in Glasgow, take your pick)
Is This Really Happening?
LEO Flight is aiming to bring both models into production by 2027. Early prototypes are already drawing attention from aerospace engineers and sci-fi fanatics alike. These craft are designed to fly just above the ground using ducted fans, making them safer and quieter than traditional rotor designs.
It’s all very futuristic – the sort of thing Top Gear presenters would salivate over while Hammond tries to land one in a field.
Who’s This For?
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Wealthy commuters who’ve had enough of the M8
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Tech moguls with too many Teslas
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Midlife crisis veterans who've outgrown superbikes
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People who just really, really hate traffic lights
Is It Practical?
With a 20-mile range, you won’t be touring the Highlands, but you could skip over the daily snarl of traffic and arrive anywhere within that bubble feeling like Bruce Wayne. You won’t be nipping to Asda in it any time soon, but for quick hops between private airfields or rural estates, it’s ideal.
Admittedly, "range anxiety" now includes vertical drop calculations, and landing it somewhere with a Costa and a public loo might be a challenge. But still, the bragging rights are immense.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve got the money, a spare garden the size of a football pitch, and a fondness for adrenaline, why not? The LEO Flight Solo and Coupe won’t replace your daily driver just yet, but they might just replace your sense of boredom.
And next time someone says, “The traffic was brutal this morning,” you’ll get to smirk and reply:
“I wouldn’t know. I flew here.”
