Elon Musk unveils flying Tesla

Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled the company's next-generation Roadster during a livestreamed event in Waco, Texas, drawing attention to the electric carmaker's ambitious plans for the vehicle. The demonstration showcased the Roadster performing a dramatic flying maneuver after climbing a towering curved ramp. The car traveled upside down, briefly lifted off, and executed an aerial flip before landing safely, seemingly with the aid of thrusters under the vehicle.

Musk stated, "Well, it worked," after the demonstration, which highlighted the Roadster's rocket-inspired capabilities. The presentation also demonstrated the vehicle accelerating from zero to 60 mph in less than a second, though these claims and capabilities have yet to be validated in a production car. Held on Thursday night, the event centered on the vehicle's unusual stunts and proposed performance features rather than conventional product details.

The Roadster's flying maneuver involved climbing the multi-storey curved ramp, reaching the top, and flipping before descending using compressed-air thrusters. The car also flew over Tesla's lineup of vehicles, including the Model 3, Model Y, Cybertruck, Semi, and Cybercab. Tesla's vice-president of engineering, Lars Moravy, described the maneuver as a "kick flip."

According to the explanation given at the event, the Roadster employs a fan-based suction system supplied by SpaceX and mounted underneath the vehicle, generating up to two Gs of suction force. This system helps maintain contact with the surface during the demonstration. The Roadster is powered by two ultra-high-pressure air tanks with a combined volume of 600 liters, containing approximately 250 kilograms of air.

The air is released through 10 nozzles to generate thrust and execute maneuvers, and the system is designed to allow the vehicle to recharge its tanks as it uses the stored air for lifts, flips, and other movements.