Looking forward to buying a flying car? Better expect flying police to be out there ahead of you.
Florida Polytechnic University on Oct. 20 unveiled the first pilot-operated flying vehicle for use in patrolling by law enforcement. The vehicle, a Jetson ONE, was manufactured by Jetson, Inc. and has been nicknamed "Astro," both references to the classic "The Jetsons" cartoon. According to FPU, it's the first flying car to be incorporated into a law enforcement patrol fleet in the country.
The one-seat electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft will enable the Florida Poly Police Department to search for missing people on campus, respond to traffic crashes, and assist other agencies with searches or emergency response efforts, according to Florida Poly Police Chief
Aaron Murray, who has been trained to fly it.
"Astro" comes equipped with a set of electric motors totaling about 102 horsepower and is classified as an ultralight craft, Murray said. The vehicle is built from durable aluminum and has an open cockpit, partially enclosed by low side walls, with a pair of curved rollbars along the top. Four bars extend out from each side of the front and back to hold eight small, black rotors, which provide lift and thrust, operated by a joystick.
The vehicle weighs 154 pounds without its battery and has a carrying capacity of 210 pounds, Murray said. It can fit in the back of a truck and fly for about 20 minutes on a single charge, depending on the pilot's speed. It seats one person, with extra space for mission-critical items such as emergency supplies.
"Astro" has a top speed of 63 mph, according to the manufacturer. It can fly safely with the loss of one motor and has a built-in, automatic safety parachute.
Florida Poly expects to receive final approval for its use from the FAA by early December.
"Beyond its potential public-safety role, ‘Astro’ will serve as a hands-on learning and research platform for students and faculty at Florida Polytechnic University," Jetson said in a press release. FPU introduced a new aerospace engineering degree this fall.
Flying cars could become common in Florida
If Gov. Ron DeSantis has his way, Florida will be at the forefront of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM).
In June 2025, President Donald Trump signed an order requiring the FAA to work with eVTOL companies to start a "pilot program" and conduct flight trials.
Air taxi company Archer Aviation announced in Dec. 2025 that it will provide flights between Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, and Miami international airports, depending on testing and Federal Aviation Administration certification.
In March, the U.S. Department of Transportation selected Florida as one of several test areas for its eVTOL Integration Pilot Program. Florida's programs will focus on cargo delivery, passenger transportation, automation, and medical response with partners Archer, BETA, Electra, Joby, and more.
In April, DeSantis signed a bill authorizing the Florida Department of Transportation to fund the public costs of a public vertiport if federal funds are not available. If federal funds are available, FDOT may fund up to 80% of the nonfederal share.
In August, DeSantis announced that the Federal Aviation Administration selected the new Florida AAM Headquarters at the SunTrax Campus in Auburndale as a partner to test AAM vehicles, sometimes called air taxis.
“You just need a vertiport. You don’t need a runway. You can take these and drop them into a major city and not have disruption,” the governor said.
“We really truly are in the age of flying cars,” state Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue said. “By the end of this year, they will be flying and testing these vehicles in Florida.”
The first phase of what’s called the state’s Aerial Highway Network will focus on the congested Interstate 4 corridor that connects Tampa, Orlando and Daytona Beach.
After Tesla unveiled its long-awaited flying two-seat Roadster prototype on Oct. 15, DeSantis said he would make sure it was legal in Florida.
"At a minimum could be used to leapfrog golf carts in the Villages," he posted on X.
C. A. Bridges is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida's service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Watch Florida Poly's 'Astro,' what it calls the 1st flying police car
