Florida will be actively testing 'flying cars' by the end of the year, DeSantis says By Meleah Lyden August 11, 2026 at 1:42 PM EDT The Advanced Air Mobility technology has the potential to be used as air taxis, cargo delivery, medical transportation and emergency response. After decades of viewing flying cars as a figment in movies like "Back to the Future," Gov. Ron DeSantis said the reality of it might not be too far out. This is because SunTrax AirGround in Polk County will be actively testing electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL) by the end of the year, DeSantis announced Monday at the Auburndale facility. "I can't promise we will ever be able to take you to the future or to the past, but I think we're going to be able to get you up in the air at some point in the not too distant future," DeSantis said, referring to a scene in the sci-fi classic starring Michael J. Fox. The testing will be throughout the Central Florida aerospace region. SunTrax is located along the I-4 corridor and is 775 acres. The facility was initially built to test connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) technologies. But last year, the governor announced the Florida Department of Transportation was building two vertiports there, which is like a heliport. According to a release, SunTrax is home to the country's first dedicated Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Aerial Test Track. This allows companies a "controlled environment" to test technology under real-world conditions. DeSantis explained how runways are not needed for these to take flight. Instead, the eVTOLs will lift straight up from a vertiport and go. https://x.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/2086865865195352484 How will this affect Florida? One of the goals of the Advanced Air Mobility technology is to relieve road congestion. "I think the one place