It ain't the Millennium Falcon, but hey ... it's baby steps for Harrison Ford, who was back at the stick -- of a Tesla last week.

It's the first time photogs have spotted Ford out in public since he ditched a plane on a Santa Monica golf course back in March, heroically missing nearby homes.

Ford was cruising around L.A. in the luxury electric vehicle with a friend. The 72-year-old looks to have healed well -- his face was cut and bloodied following the plane crash, but you can't see a mark on it in the pics.

Don't worry ... he'll hold together.