Flying car......for real

[dennis in se pa]

Hope it is not a repost....

AeroMobil: Flying car

[Mark Henry]

I was on here last year, still in development I take it.
It will be expensive if it ever gets produced.

Like all of the other tries at this dream, a car makes a lousy airplane and an airplane makes a lousy car.

[GH85Carrera]

I guess the old adage "If you have to ask how much it costs you can't afford it" rings true.

[HardDrive]

An expensive solution in search of a problem to solve.

[gshase]

You will never see one parked at a Mall.

[flipper35]

They would have to park like a db at the mall as long as it is.

Shouldn't they feather the prop when they are driving? Looks like a lot of drag the way it is.

I would rather buy a used Elise and a Cub/Champ/Tri Pacer/... for less money and have two useful toys. I could rent a car when I get to where I am going.

[Christien]

I kind of hope this technology never goes mainstream. Could you image soccer moms in the sky? I mean, a little fender bender in traffic is a pain, delays your day, have to deal with the insurance company, blah blah blah. A mid-air "fender bender" would likely be fatal!

[KNS]

Anyone who wants to fly their car around the sky is still going to have to get a pilot's certificate to operate anywhere in the airspace system - and that's most major cities and suburbs where commuting will take place. That will continue to be the big hurdle for most.

If you want to fly from your farm to your neighbor's farm or ranch in a rural area, then that's different.

[BigInJapan]

I can't see this...taking off

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by KNS

Anyone who wants to fly their car around the sky is still going to have to get a pilot's certificate to operate anywhere in the airspace system - and that's most major cities and suburbs where commuting will take place. That will continue to be the big hurdle for most.

If you want to fly from your farm to your neighbor's farm or ranch in a rural area, then that's different.

Yeah, I don't see these making weight as a LSA.

[afterburn 549]

Anything the Govt has to do with will be RED TAPED to death B4 the start.
Ralph will label it unsafe at any altitude just to make a book.
It will have to have 100 MPH crash bumpers
Parachutes for all occupants and two extra.
A on board ELT, EMT , ICU, Blood alcohol ck, back up cameras, be able to fly hands free in the event of a emergency and self park.
The DOT will want a tire that can be changed whilest in flight.
The EPA will want it to be made of recycled bricks .
No good idea can get off the ground with a govt with its hands, claws, and guns out.

[widebody911]

I can definitely see myself not having one of these.

[afterburn 549]

I like it !

[911_Dude]

I have to admit, it looks pretty cool. But as mentioned, it doesnt look like it would be a good car or airplane.

Seems like it could be a difficult one to land. Doesnt look like much up and down travel of the wheels is available and it appears to be designed to land flat on all four. If the tail touches first, the front wheels will have no control for flair. They will just plop down. Good effort tho. I wonder what the top speed is?

[dennis in se pa]

I don't think the purpose is a fast flight to Florida. I am guessing it is a good way around heavy traffic though.

[911_Dude]

There is no way it will ever be allowed to go from driving on the highway to taking off on a highway and landing, if thats what you mean. Which takes all the fun out of it, IMO.

[onewhippedpuppy]

These guys have been working on one for a long time.

The Transition® | Terrafugia

They do have a flying and driving test article. Last I read, they were finding it very difficult to meet auto crash regulations without compromising their flight ability. Crash safety typically drives weight, weight is death to an airplane.

Personally I've never got the entire flying car thing. In reality you have to drive your flying car to the airport, transform it to a plane, then fly away. They are typically mediocre cars and mediocre planes because of the compromises required. I'd much rather drive a good car to the airport, park it at my hanger, hop in a good plane, then fly away.

[petrolhead611]

Did you notice the rotate speed? 81 mph. Thats fast, especially with limited wheel movement, fun (not) on a grass strip(which would have to be loooooong anyway for a Rotax 912 to get it up to that speed).
The underside of the nose is kinda close to the ground as well, OK for a car. Landings would have to be precise 4 wheelers.

[Mark Henry]

Can you imagine getting dinged at a parking lot?
You might have a strip at home but you still need to go to an airport at your destination. Why not have a better plane and just rent a car?

To me this will never be anything but a toy for the rich.
I tried to find out how much...
"Priced somewhere between a supercar and a small plane"
That statement casts a pretty large net.

[afterburn 549]

As the law reads now, every ding and dent would have to have a A&P fix it. (or sign it off by someone.)

Maybe if they were popular enough some of the books could be changed.