And by the way, getting an aircraft "certified" is an extremely difficult process. The Alef guys are pretty closed-mouth about that, other than the hint that they would find other countries more flexible.
The Samson, on the other hand, is going the "experimental" route, which is really interesting. It is much easier to get FAA certification if you provide 51% of the labor. The Samson FAQ has a detailed description of how you can build your plane at their factory. If they build a lot of the parts with robots, it is possible that you would provide most of the assembly process. You still need a pilots license and a runway, though.
For the Alef, in the distant future I could see a market where you take off from a pad behind your McMansion, and land at a designated spot at your corporate headquarters and then drive into a parking garage. How you avoid air traffic in between is another matter.
The Samson, on the other hand, is going the "experimental" route, which is really interesting. It is much easier to get FAA certification if you provide 51% of the labor. The Samson FAQ has a detailed description of how you can build your plane at their factory. If they build a lot of the parts with robots, it is possible that you would provide most of the assembly process. You still need a pilots license and a runway, though.
For the Alef, in the distant future I could see a market where you take off from a pad behind your McMansion, and land at a designated spot at your corporate headquarters and then drive into a parking garage. How you avoid air traffic in between is another matter.
