Jet-propelled sky taxi tested in Germany

[shenmue]

http://www.bbc.com/news/av/technology-39661299/jet-propelled-sky-taxi-tested-in-germany

[dhill926]

1. that is cool...

too bad we'll never have anything like it....or bullet trains....or....

[Lisa0825]

2. Uber has plans for sky taxis.

I saw something about it a few weeks ago. I think the target date for test markets was 2020?

[MicaelS]

4. Uber to test flying taxis in D/FW and Dubai.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10028978896

[Judi Lynn]

3. Would it be possible to ask for taxis which stay around six feet off the ground?

That way you don't hit critters, but don't have so far to fall if you run into something else!

Intriguing idea, sky taxis. Thank you.

[cstanleytech]

6. It would have to be higher than that to avoid hitting any animals.

Moose can be over 6 feet high and then there are still things like birds which can cause problems if they hit an engine or get sucked up into one and then there is the whole power requirement problem as to make it economical you need to be able to do multiple flights before having to recharge and I just dont see it happening atleast not with the current battery technology.

[caraher]

5. Not really "jets"

The hype is not believable - all they've done is flown a lightweight drone, and the performance they are claiming for a full-scale version seems highly inconsistent with the capabilities of present-day batteries and the laws of aerodynamics.

These folks are good at hype, I'll give the that.