Florida plans to test electric flying cars before the year’s out. On Monday, at the SunTrax facility in Auburndale, DeSantis laid out the vision: The state is moving fast on advanced air mobility. SunTrax, spread over 775 acres in Polk County, now features two vertiports and the country’s first aerial test track for these vehicles. The electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft don’t need a runway; they just go up. The FAA selected SunTrax for its national pilot program. DeSantis referenced the classic line from “Back to the Future”: “Where we’re going, we don’t need roads,” and promised, “We’re going to get you up in the air.”

SunTrax started as a testing ground for autonomous vehicles, but now it’s expanded into the sky. The new facilities were built to push Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) forward, yes, “flying cars.” The goal? Give Floridians another option for getting around, unclog traffic, and possibly restore regional air connections. Florida expects AAM test flights before year’s end.

During his visit, DeSantis spotlighted Florida’s edge in transportation innovation. “By the end of this year, we’ll be testing eVTOL aircraft right here,” he said. SunTrax is also supporting autonomous and connected vehicle deployment. And there’s a strong focus on education: FDOT is teaming up with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Polk State College to train students for careers in advanced transportation.

Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue called AAM “a great addition to Florida’s world-class transportation portfolio.” Polk State College President Anastasios Kamoutsas emphasized hands-on training, saying SunTrax gives students access to groundbreaking technology and helps drive growth and new jobs statewide.

SunTrax AirGround will test eVTOL aircraft across Central Florida, providing companies with space to test new aircraft and communications tech in a controlled, real-world setting. The facility isn’t stopping there, as companies will have hangars for research, manufacturing, and assembly.

AAM isn’t just about air taxis for passengers. It covers cargo deliveries, medical transport, and emergency response. Florida is leading the way, crafting safety and operational plans for eVTOLs through the FAA’s Integration Pilot Program, while Embry-Riddle handles much of the research.

SunTrax isn’t just about the sky, it’s also the region’s main hub for testing autonomous and connected vehicles. The facility offers the only high-speed autonomous test track in the Southeast. Companies can try out vehicles in controlled urban setups, weather simulations, and complex scenarios. These are the proving grounds before hitting Florida’s actual roads.

Progress is showing up outside the test track, too. Waymo, the big name in driverless ride-hailing, has given hundreds of thousands of rides in the state. People in Miami and Orlando can order fully autonomous rides today. Soon, Tampa joins the mix. Waymo’s working closely with FDOT, law enforcement, and first responders to make sure everything runs smoothly and safely.

Preparing the workforce is just as important. FDOT, Embry-Riddle, and Polk State are collaborating to develop credentials for future pilots, engineers, and techs. They want Florida’s workforce ready to maintain and operate all this advanced transportation technology.

All these steps put Florida at the forefront of transportation. The research and testing at SunTrax will keep the state’s systems innovative, open up new travel options, support the supply chain, and make life easier for residents and visitors.

For more details, check out Suntraxfl.com.

The post Flying Cars in Florida: “Where we’re going, we don’t need roads. We’re going to get you up in the air,” says DeSantis appeared first on Englewood Review.

FDOT’s already laying the groundwork. The first phase covers airports stretching from Daytona Beach, through Orlando, all the way to Sarasota. They’re not stopping there, either. In the next few months, FDOT plans to set up a headquarters in Polk County to run this aerial highway network and put the tech through its paces.

There’s still a lot to figure out, and nobody’s saying what a ride will cost yet, or exactly which aircraft the FAA will greenlight. But officials are aiming high. They expect flights over the I-4 corridor between Tampa and Orlando to go live by the end of 2026. SunTrax in Auburndale is right at the heart of this, leading research and development for the project.

“We’re in the era of flying cars—think of it as an air Uber or air taxi,” says FDOT’s chief of staff, Jessica Ottaviano. The big idea? Cut down traffic jams along Florida’s busiest highways. The pilot program starts simple with one main route connecting major cities. If it works, they’ll connect Miami, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Fort Myers, and more.

Ottaviano adds, “This will be the first facility in the country focusing on both modes of transportation in one spot, letting us really home in on transportation tech and research.”

These new electric aircraft, called eVTOLs, short for electric vertical takeoff and landing, are built for short hops, carrying a handful of passengers at a time. Riders will board at vertiports, set up around the state. The goal? Become the first profitable commercial flying taxi service in the country, maybe even the world.

eVTOLs use distributed electric motors for quiet, efficient vertical flight. They’re greener than helicopters, flying lower than most planes (about 1,500 to 4,000 feet) and cutting commute times by skipping ground traffic. Companies like Archer (with their Midnight model), Joby, and Lilium are racing to get FAA approval. It’s not all smooth flying—battery technology and infrastructure still need work.

No word yet on how much a trip will set you back. FDOT says different companies will set their own prices, so riders can compare and pick the best deal once the service launches.

The post Florida’s Air Uber: FDOT plans I-4 corridor flying taxis by 2026—Daytona Beach to Sarasota first to see air taxi service appeared first on Englewood Review.