So it's finally been done?

[reptile3141]

Just browsin' the interwebs and came across this article. I remember seeing a thread awhile back about if flying cars would benefit society or not...so I guess I should post this. I personally think it looks pretty cool.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28796183/wid/11915829&gt1=43001

[i love you]

Re: So it's finally been done?

Lol, that car looks kinda cool. I wonder if that's how future flying cars are going to look like. o.o

[dean_machine]

Re: So it's finally been done?

If I knew how to fly it and could afford it, I would get one.

[nuclearsamurai]

Re: So it's finally been done?

I'd probably be scared to fly this. >_>

[OrganisM]

Re: So it's finally been done?

The problem is the whole futuristic thing will never work. People have enough trouble with a two-dimensional plane to operate a vehicle across. That said, this is a really cool development.

[who_cares973]

Re: So it's finally been done?

that's a pretty funny looking car

a step forward so cool

[Afrobean]

Re: So it's finally been done?

There have been cars in the past with airplane-like flight.

It's not a big deal until we get HOVER cars that can FLY BY HOVERING.

[jump_the_bullet]

Re: So it's finally been done?

yeah so i want one. like now plz.

or hover car either way.

can anyone loan me $194,000 ?

[Squeek]

Re: So it's finally been done?

The real question is: how do you regulate this?

Most small aircrafts that don't require air traffic control (as this car is as mentioned in the article) don't go over urban areas. This will. And you're not allowed to use airport runways, which begs the question of where you'll be landing this thing flying at 60+.

[EnR]

Re: So it's finally been done?

Build your own runway :X

[knuckles2224]

Re: So it's finally been done?

Terrorist cars lol.

[Squeek]

Re: So it's finally been done?

Build your own runway :X

Build a runway... at your destination?

I'm confused.

[Bynary Fission]

Re: So it's finally been done?

I honestly don't see how this can work. If you all realize what a normal, civilian aircraft has to do just to be able to take off (not to mention land), then you'll see how doing this for a million people isn't even a possibility. For a brief overview, an airplane has to receive clearance when they can take off/land, and when they're in the air, they're restricted to certain altitudes because of oncoming air traffic. Now imagine this for the masses. You'll need thousands upon thousands of airports, each with their own retinue of ground crew, and that gets expensive, not to mention impractical, fast. Then you have to make sure you don't crash into the numerous oncoming planes, which have to sustain speeds of at least 60 knots for stable flight (and possibly faster for other aircraft), which is equal to about 69 MPH - that makes it dangerous to cross and merge into your path, especially since unlike cars, they can't stop. I highly doubt everybody will be going at the minimum speed anyways.


I think it'd be fine as a toy for the well-to-do, but I honestly don't think it could work for the masses, even if some de-regulation occurred with the right to fly and all.


Also, good luck when you run out of gas while in the air.


~Bynary Fission

EDIT: Oh yeah, I'd worry about the people who don't even know how to fly a plane but still think it's cool to do so anyways.

[Kekeb]

Re: So it's finally been done?

I don't know why you're trying to compare this to the car Bynary. This 'roadable aircraft' isn't meant to serve the masses.

[Bynary Fission]

Re: So it's finally been done?

Neither was the car when it was first built. Things like this tend to go down in price as technology enables cheaper production while demand increases. If this actually works, you can bet that a lot of people would want their own flying car. It may be a toy for the rich now, but I'm not sure it'll remain that way, considering the massive profit potential from selling these to the masses.


~Bynary Fission