The owners of the ASKA flying car company in Mountain View have purchased a World War II-era Fresno County airfield. ASKA photo

A historic airfield in Fresno County with connections to World War II has been purchased by the owners of a flying car startup.

Four acres at Eagle Field in Firebaugh was sold on Feb. 28 for about $1.13 million to Eagle Field LLC, according to documents recorded with Fresno County. The seller was Joseph Davis.

Eagle Field was most recently used as a drag racing venue. About 300 acres of land around the runway was also sold, reported The Fresno Bee.

Maki and Guy Kaplinsky, husband-wife founders of flying car startup ASKA in Mountain View, formed Eagle Field LLC to purchase the property with plans to renovate the former pilot training facility, reported The Bee.

ASKA was founded in 2018 to develop the world’s first road-worthy, electric-hybrid flying vehicle. 

 

Developers of the ASKA A5 model have been performing street driving tests around Silicon Valley with clearance from the Department of Motor Vehicles. It was deemed airworthy for research and development purposes by the Federal Aviation Administration in July 2024. It has conducted more than 500 unmanned hovering tests.

ASKA seeks to integrate the A5 with existing charging stations, airfields, helipads and runways, according to a news release. It’s envisioned as a vehicle that operators could drive through an airport gate and taxi for runway takeoff.

“A5 offers the first and last mile transportation, enabling it to scale by seamlessly integrating into the ground infrastructure,” according to ASKA.

 

Over $50 million in pre-orders have been placed for ASKA A5, according to a news release. The vehicle is on track for commercialization in 2026, subject to certification.

Established in 1943, Eagle Field was used as a primary pilot training airfield by the U.S. Army Air Forces.

In 2008, Eagle Field was featured in a short scene in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, where it was used to resemble an old-time airstrip in Mexico.