“First-Ever Manned eVTOL Receives Racing Certification”
Airspeeder has achieved what some thought would be mighty difficult. The company has received the first ever regulatory approval for human testing of its electric flying race car, reports a press release. The next step may be even more challenging. The approval of actual competitive races.
The Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has given the nod for Alauda Aeronautics to take its Airspeeder MK 4 race-craft from concept and testing to a fully constructed and flight-ready vehicle.
The release explains, “Engineered with expertise drawn from Ferrari, McLaren, Airbus and Boeing, the MK 4 is the first of its kind in Australia and the world. More than certification alone, this milestone demonstrates that flying car racing is no longer science-fiction, but a tangible reality, fusing aerospace innovation with the excitement of sport to define the future of advanced mobility.”
It continues, “This marks another bold leap forward for Australian aerospace. Following landmark approvals such as Gilmour’s orbital launch, CASA is cementing Australia’s position as the proving ground for frontier technologies, stretching from rockets to flying cars.”
Certification often validates years of engineering, testing and in this case, racing. The approval marks the creation of a new category: “Physical AI Racing.”
The path to obtaining these major credentials has been thorough. To date, the Airspeeder team has constructed more than ten aircraft from the ground up, and has trained seven pilots through their training program.
Currently working on the fourth generation vehicle, the team has successfully completed over 400 test flights with the MK 3, including tri-vehicle races on aerial circuits where multiple speeders competed for victory using Augmented Reality racetracks.
Combining advanced technologies with a racing format that motorsport fans will recognise, Airspeeder finds itself in a realm that seems perfectly suited for the next major innovation. The AI Forcefield feature: A distinctive shared-control system that guarantees real-time safety among high-speed vehicles, creates an exhilarating mid-air racing experience while also serving as the ultimate AI testbed for the unique data sets produced by high-octane sports. It processes data from fast 3D flights, close racing, multi-sensor inputs, quick decision-making, human interaction and extreme conditions.
English-born Matt Pearson, Airspeeder’s co-Founder, enthused, “This is the Formula 1 of robotics, where safety, autonomy and cutting-edge AI meet real-world speed. We’ve created a sport that solves real engineering challenges and accelerates the future of mobility through racing.”
Airspeeder integrates cutting-edge AI, sim-to-real robotics, and low-latency control systems to create competitive 3D racing environments, where safety and precision are paramount. Airspeeder’s evolution into a platform where motorsport, aerospace and AI converge has also attracted foundational technology support from Dell Technologies, Intel, AWS, Telstra and IWC Schaffhausen.
John Roese, Airpseeder’s CRO and leading AI Officer, added, “Each Airspeeder racecraft is essentially a flying AI PC, capturing, processing and acting on massive streams of data in real time.” Adding, “This isn’t just the future of sport, it is a proving ground for the next era of intelligent, autonomous mobility.”
The release continues, “Dell Technologies provides the innovative blend of components that optimise the technology systems of the craft. Dell Pro Max high-performance AI PCs with Intel Core processors and NVIDIA RTX GPUs are used for rapid iterations in the design of the Airspeeder.”
It continues, “On race day, Dell PowerEdge XR servers thrive in extreme conditions, withstanding the heat, dust and shock faced by the vehicles. This ability sets the stage for the future of racing to take place in never before seen settings: arid deserts, snowy terrains, and high-altitude tracks over the ocean. The machines capture terabytes of real-time data at the edge using AI from vehicle performance and pilot behaviour to audience broadcast feeds.”
Matt Pearson, is one of Australia’s leading tech visionaries, co-founding and taking Fleet Space, alongside co-founder Flavia Tata Nardini, from an idea to global leader in space tech and AI-powered mineral exploration.
Closing their AUS150 million Series D funding round at an AUS800 million valuation, he has created future industries out of radical frontier technology applications in space exploration, aerospace and climate technology.
Meanwhile, Intel is the Official Intelligence Partner. It plays a key role in developing vehicle intelligence and race infrastructure for the series, powered by Intel Core and Intel Xeon Scalable processors, offering full system support and insights to elevate the racing experience for pilots, teams and spectators. Extensive 5G connectivity guarantees critical data processing without interruption throughout the race, allowing for top-tier performance and control.
Matt Pearson
Intel will also assist with defining the virtual racetrack, a crucial element for one of the most innovative aspects of the sport, where real-life racers experience the limitless possibilities of augmented reality.
Hans Chuang, VP of Sales & Marketing and General Manager of Intel Asia Pacific and Japan, remarked, “We have been working with Airspeeder for three years as its Technology Intelligence Partner. We are excited to be powering the next transformation in transportation, as demonstrated by Intel silicon powering the first manned flying racing speeder.”
Airspeeder’s current racecraft, the Alauda Airspeeder Mk3, already flies in competitive settings and is piloted by former Formula 1 and Formula E driver Bruno Senna.
Jack Withinshaw, another Founder and CCO at Airspeeder, said, “Racing is where innovation happens at the edge. We’re building a sport that brings together the best engineers, brands, and minds to shape the future of mobility. That’s the magic of Airspeeder.”
Meanwhile Celeros, Airspeeder’s official eSports platform, has gained major traction. It has just announced a partnership with the Alpine F1 Team, which boasts celebrity support from Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds and former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson, aiming to deliver an immersive racing experience to fans worldwide.
The release concludes, “Officially introduced to the public in 2019 at the UK Goodwood Festival of Speed, Airspeeder has grown from a bold concept into a fully operational race series and deep-tech platform. With next-gen vehicles on the horizon and global momentum building, 2025 marks the start of a breakthrough era for the future of flying car racing and aerial mobility.”
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(Images: Airspeeder)
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