Flying cars swoop to the rescue

[emad]

BBC News



Flying cars may be 25 years or more away

As motorways become more and more clogged up with traffic, a new generation of flying cars will be needed to ferry people along skyways.

That is the verdict of engineers from the US space agency and aeronautical firms, who envision future commuters travelling by "skycar".

These could look much like the concept skycar shown in the picture, designed by Boeing research and development.

However, such vehicles could be some 25 years from appearing on the market.
More:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3676694.stm

[nickinSTL]

1. mini-helicopters?

or am I seeing that wrong?

Considering how badly most people drive, allowing most people to fly is...scary.

[trotsky]

2. Not to mention the power (i.e., FUEL) required.

I really don't see how flying cars would solve anything, as much as I would LOOOOVE to have one.

[Massacure]

14. Some guy built a prototype of a flying car. He got like 28 mpg on it.

That's better than a Arnolds hummer.

Heres the link.

http://www.moller.com/skycar/

[Ready4Change]

5. Generally envisioned to be totally automated.

They plan to take human error out of the picture by creating aerial highways traversed only by totally automated vehicles. You'd get in, close the doors, type in an address or otherwise tell it where to take you, then sit back and enjoy the ride.

However, being a pilot, it'll be a long time before I ever climb into one. Automation is great at handling predictable situations, but horrendous at handling the unexpected. For that you still need an engaged human at the controls.

[htuttle]

3. Twenty five years away?

Well, they better not need petroleum fuel, in that case.

I think our 'George Jetson/Star Trek future' window has closed for the time being....Looking more like Mad Max every day...

[dweller]

8. doesn't look good then..

dp

[htuttle]

10. LOL!

He's my hero!

[Ready4Change]

9. Fuel is definitely an issue as well.

Fuel-wise, Jetsons/Star Trek assume plentiful and nearly free energy.

Large airliners can get surprisingly good fuel milage per passenger. As much as 60 mpg when fully loaded, figured for a Boeing 777. However, the smaller an aircraft gets, the worse it's fuel milage per passenger becomes. In the end, as long as you don't need to get where you are going very quickly, ground transportation will always be more fuel efficient.

So, a single passenger air car, especially in helicopter form, trying to get some where quickly, is about the worst milage vehicle you can envision.

[rogerashton]

4. Deja vu all over again.

Go to your friendly local Paper Emphera show -- or you might find it in a library -- and look through Popular Science issues from the fifties, and you will discover that everybody will have flying cars by, oh, about 1980 or so.

[mhr]

6. One Phrase - Peak Oil - Where Will The Fuel Come From To Power

these machines?

Move along folks - more pie in the sky - technically feasible yet decidedly impractical.

[hatrack]

7. God, this is like reading a 1966 issue of "Boys Life"

"Next, Ken, Kelly and Dr. Jones prepare for their rocket-powered daytrip to the Bahamas."

[Buck Turgidson]

11. You can buy one soon.

The Skycar

Moller International has developed the first and only feasible, personally affordable, personal vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicle the world has ever seen.


http://www.moller.com/skycar/

[MercutioATC]

12. Sure, if you want to get a pilot's license to go with it...

Plus, the quote from the FAQ page "Since the M400 has not yet been flown..." doesn't sound too promising to me...

[Buck Turgidson]

15. Of course, you're right..

..but I am just fascinated with the concept of a flying car. The Skycar will set you back a mere $500,000. If it ever actually flys.

[MercutioATC]

16. I agree in theory, but there are a LOT of obstacles.

...not the least of which is flying safety.

We're simply not set up for air commuting...there are too many planes in the sky in some locations as it is. Fascinating concept, but not practical.

[MisterP]

13. THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID 25 YEARS AGO!