Flying Car

[Mike]

For all of you who thought we'd all be in flying cars by the year 2000. It's almost a reality. Well, if you have $1M, then it's a reality NOW.

http://www.moller.com/

[zbane]

I've been watching that thing develop through the press for some time. I would love to see it work in person, or even better, to own and operate one myself...Until then, I'll have to stick with my Datsun

[sblake01]

They tried this in the early 70s with the AVE Mizar. If you know the story you might recall it as the "Flying Pinto". Unfortunately, the story had a tragic ending.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AVE_Mizar

[JimmyZ]

I remember in the '80's someone had another version of a flying car. The problem is getting FAA approval and devising a system with enough backups/redundancy for safety. The line from the flying car people has always been "We expect to be using these/have them approved in _ years. (Usually two or three years) It is still a nice idea.

Noise abatement is a real issue as I doubt they will be able to make these things quiet. The best we could hope for would be to use the flying car to cut the rental of a loaner car out of the airport scene. At many small airports you can usually borrow or rent the field car for some local jaunt.

With the flying car you'd simply drive your car to the airport or designated liftoff area depending on the hour and weather.

Training for SEL VFR private pilot cert is not too hard but would escape the masses. They simply don't posess the concept of social responsibility that comes with being a pilot. (Some pilots do too) You would have people who are too rushed to do a proper preflight taking off with water in the fuel, inoperative equipment etc all just to make it somewhere. (Their crash site)

I can see a select few operating flying cars in the future. Community planning is better as is mass transit. As the world gets more crowded Autozone, McDonalds, malls and Home Depots become more numerous so soon won't need to drive anywhere. Fed Ex will pick up the loose ends.

My2c

Jim

[Mr Camouflage]

Looks like something out of starwars episode 1.

The problem with "flying cars" is that with todays tech, they are basically just low flying air-craft, with all the inherent dangers associated with air-craft (such as falling out of the air when something goes wrong).

Flying cars have a long way to go before i'd consider them a true flying car, (such as those in the movies blade runner, or the Fifth element, or even the land speeder from starwars (episode 4 - the first movie) ). But that kind of anti gravity hovering is something we don't have the knowledge or technology to build.

Weren't we all supposed to be flying around with jet-packs by now?

[Grim]

I bet that thing can suck down the fuel.

[MikeW]

From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moller_M400

"As of late 2002, MI's approximately 40 years' of development has resulted in a prototype Skycar capable of hovering about fifteen feet above the ground."

[sblake01]

At least the flying Pinto could get higher up in the air than that. Until the crash.

[Mike]

Flying cars have a long way to go before i'd consider them a true flying car, (such as those in the movies blade runner, or the Fifth element, or even the land speeder from starwars (episode 4 - the first movie) ). But that kind of anti gravity hovering is something we don't have the knowledge or technology to build.

I wouldn't go far into assuming the technology doesn't exist. The government has been working on many different propulsion technologies for a number of years. One of my buddies at work used to be on a team working with magnetic propulsion.

Look up the term "magnetic propulsion" or "ion engine" on the Internet and you'll find a ton of data surrounding this research. I'd love to find a car that could run on this kind of technology. Only problem right now is the electrical supply.

[Alfadog]

Weren't we all supposed to be flying around with jet-packs by now?

I just want my hover board already...

I remember doing an assignment in 1997 about the Moller Sky Car. I was so excited because they said they would be on the market by 2000.

[1 Bravo 6]

Flying cars ????

Check out the winner of this years Darwin Awards. At least he's no longer part of the gene pool.

Rick.

[brushie1320022]

That car/plane is bad a_ _..Did you guys read the specs on it? Say it has top speed of 375 mph and a whoping 20 mpg...I bet it will be coming real soon