CEO and Founder of Samson Sky, Sam Bousfield, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with international development consultant Bakhtiyor Bahodurov, a senior advisor with more than two decades of experience across Central Asia, to support aviation development in Tajikistan.
Bahodurov is known for facilitating high-level collaboration between government entities, international organizations, and private investors, particularly in economic development, infrastructure, and innovation, securing over $12 million for Tajikistan and more than $35 million for Kazakhstan.
The MOU involves Samson Sky providing assistance to Tajikistan’s government to improve General Aviation legislation, enabling Switchblade Flying Cars to be registered and used in the country, and facilitating the sale of 50 Switchblades, valued at $11.5MM USD. It also includes Samson establishing pilot training programs, providing access to their advanced flight simulators, training mechanics to handle any required maintenance of the Switchblade, and supplying replacement vehicle parts.
Samson Sky’s Switchblade flying car is positioned as a valuable solution for improving mobility in Tajikistan, where nearly 50% of the country is covered by some of the world’s highest mountain ranges. While these landscapes present significant travel challenges, they also create strong opportunities for adventure tourism.
The MOU was signed during the “SAMSON SKY – Welcome to Central Asia” event in Dushanbe, Tajikistan’s capital, bringing together senior representatives from government, banking, aviation, and international business. The event was later featured in national news coverage by TV Jahonnamo, the country’s primary broadcaster, which reaches approximately 81% of the population daily.
Bousfield commented, “Central Asia is considered as an up-and-coming region of the world, and Samson is proud to be part of the advancements being made in Tajikistan.”
Dignitaries in attendance included Bakhtiyor Sheraliev, Head of Certification and Oversight Division of the Civil Aviation Agency of Tajikistan; Hasan Asadullozoda, Board Chairman of Orienbank, a leading commercial Tajikistan bank; Ms. Gulanor Atobek, CEO of Alif Bank; Abdulkosim Valiev, CEO of Somon Air, the country’s national air carrier and official carrier of the President of Tajikistan; and Nilufar Bulbulshoeva, the Executive Director of the Tajikistan U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Bahodurov commented, “Our collaboration with Samson Sky reflects a shared vision of expanding general aviation, improving regional connectivity, and opening new opportunities for tourism and technological innovation. I believe this partnership will help position Tajikistan as an emerging participant in the global ecosystem of advanced air mobility.”
This latest deal adds to earlier completed agreements in Central Asia and the Middle East, all with the goal to use the Switchblade Flying Car to boost private aviation and enhance tourism. Anna V. Grebenshchikova, former aerobatic pilot, Ambassador for Samson Sky and recent nominee for the Top 20 Global Women of Excellence 2026 by the American Multi Ethnic Commission, was instrumental in bringing these agreements about through her marketing initiatives and international connections.
“It started with an idea I had in 2024 to develop private aviation in Central Asia,” said Anna. She also spearheaded an MOU with the Saudi Aviation Club, which is the official representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), and a broad-reaching MOU with AIR Tashkent of Uzbekistan, a neighboring country of Tajikistan.
Bousfield further stated, “With more deals in the works, Samson Sky is building a network to support the roll out of the Switchblade Flying Car worldwide, including establishing international service centers in the same fashion that Cessna did when they originally introduced their business jets.”
As covered in international news, in November 2025, Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon visited with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., where they discussed the numerous untapped opportunities and resources for strengthening and expanding trade and economic ties between the two countries, including the sectors of energy, transport, science and modern technologies.
The Switchblade Flying Car, which completed its official first flight in November 2023, is a hybrid-electric vehicle combining sports car performance with aviation capability. It accelerates from 0–60 mph (97 km/h) in 5 seconds, reaches a top road speed of 125 mph (201 km/h), and cruises in flight at 160 mph (257 km/h).
Designed for two occupants with luggage, the aircraft operates on premium automotive fuel and offers a flight range of up to 500 miles (805 km) at 13,000 feet on a single tank. For safety and insurability, all flying surfaces are enclosed while in driving mode. The Switchblade is sized to fit in a standard garage and can be driven on public roads to a nearby airport, where it transitions from driving to flight mode in approximately three minutes at the push of a button.
