OUR JOURNEY
March 2018
2018
2020
ASKA was founded and began developing the world’s first roadable electric-hybrid VTOL
Our first office was located in Mountain View, CA, known in the early days of Silicon Valley as the birthplace of tech startups, and today is home to industry leaders
Signed a Space Act Agreement to advance ASKA’s participation in NASA’s AAM National Campaign, jointly organized by the FAA
Company Overview
The founders of ASKA are serial entrepreneurs with a proven track record of guiding innovative technologies from concept to commercialization. Their previous startup, IQP Corporation, was an early pioneer in the Internet of Things (IoT) and was acquired by GE in 2017.
ASKA was launched in 2018 and has been on a dynamic growth trajectory, progressing through the FAA Type Certification process. The full-scale prototype of the ASKA A5 has received a Certificate of Waiver and Authorization (CoA) and a Special Airworthiness Certification as an Experimental R&D Unmanned Aircraft. The prototype has successfully conducted hovering and VTOL tests, along with over 500 miles of on-street ground tests.
ASKA A5 is now advancing towards its next major milestone - the G1 Certification Basis.
MEET THE FOUNDERS
Guy Kaplinsky
CoFounder & CEO
Maki Kaplinsky
CoFounder & Chair/COO
Advisory Board
Robert D. Blevins
Erwin Doll
Jonathan Goodman
Axel Harries
Benedikt Hartmann
Joseph Horn
Christina Ivler
Yoshitaro Kumagai
Defense Strategy Advisory Board
Fran M. Beaudette
Paul T. Calvert
Eric Edwards
Dr. Stephen Ellis
Rod D. Lewis
Shaun Morris
Marc Sasseville
Rick Snyder
Mark Wise
ASKA-the backstory
The name ASKA comes from a Japanese word that means “flying birds”—a symbol of freedom, movement, and limitless potential.
One of our founders has deep roots in Japan and was drawn to the poetic meaning behind the word. ASKA evokes the elegance and aspiration of flight, making it the perfect name for a company pioneering the world’s first drive-and-fly vehicle—a technology that will reshape how we move, live, and connect.
