Finally the Future is Really Here

[davidbeinct]

The first flying electric car, 'Model A,' approved by the FAA and it's 100% electric

Alef Aeronautics' 'Model A' has a driving range of 200 miles and a flight range of 110 miles. The company plans to start delivering cars by late 2025.

www.usatoday.com

 

[Opsimath]

That is extremely exciting, but I have a question. The article says,

"Carrying one or two occupants, the vehicle will sell for about $300,000."

Do we get to choose the occupants when we order or are they randomly selected at the factory?

Seriously, though, sounds fantastic!

And when do we get mass market fully functioning hoverboards?

 

[adorshki]

The first flying electric car, 'Model A,' approved by the FAA and it's 100% electric

Alef Aeronautics' 'Model A' has a driving range of 200 miles and a flight range of 110 miles. The company plans to start delivering cars by late 2025.

www.usatoday.com

That was yesterday. What'll you have us for us tomorrow?

And when do we get mass market fully functioning hooverboards?

Flying vacuum cleaners are so double-ought '10s...

 

[Stuball48]

At my age, I'd rather have another or couple more Guild's and fly commercially and pay someone to drive me - $300,000 would leave me some left over.

 

[Guildedagain]

Seen quite a few flying cars on Cops back in the day ;[]

 

[jp]

Car shmar! I'm waiting for my jetpack!

 

[GAD]

People can't drive the cars they already have! Of course the problem is that no one envisions riding in one of these things during a thunderstorm or even just a windy day.

I think Westworld got the whole flying car thing right, where basically they were multi-prop drones that you could ride like a taxi.

 

[jp]

Paul Moller is still going at it with his Skycar. With his endless drive, ambition, and smarts, I really thought he was going to be the first one.

 

[DrumBob]

There was a flying car built years ago that never really took off (pun intended) with the public. This new one is not the first. The ConvairCar 118 flew in 1947.

 

[dwasifar]

 

[lungimsam]

Surely they jest!
1. How will they control the air traffic for millions of these cars?
2. Do you need a pilot license?
3. What does it take to blast off and land and how could electricity possibly do that?
4. What kind of asphalt could withstand the blasts?
5. What kind of tire materials could withstand the blasts?
6. What kind of plate would have to be under the car to keep you from being roasted from the blasts?
7. Do they really expect people to be able to use reverse engines reliably to come to a stop?!?!?! Not to mention yaw, pitch, roll, etc.

 

[GAD]

Surely they jest!
How will they control the air traffic for millions of these cars?
Do you need a pilot license?
What does it take to blast off and land and how could electricity possibly do that and what kind of asphalt could withstand the blasts?

Probably more like a drone. With multiple props the downforce is distributed and the tech has been available for years. I’d imagine liability and lack of support by state governments make it unprofitable.

If something like this were to become mainstream I’d bet that they would be severely limited in attitude, be able to be taken over by police, and generally overrun with safety protocols that would make them useful but no fun at all.

If you buy a drone from the big drone companies they have altitude limits and must be registered online before they’ll fly. Sure someone like me could build their own but the FAA has been known to watch youtube channels and shut down/fine people who don’t have the proper licenses. And these are small unmanned units. Want to get permits licenses to mass produce something that can carry people? I can’t imagine the hurdles let alone the liabilities.

 

[Brad Little]

In the early '60s, Bob Cummings had a show called "The New Bob Cummings Show" (so it wouldn't be confused with the original Bob Cummings Show, sometimes called Love that Bob). In it, he played a private detective who traveled in an aerocar, a car that pulled wings behind it and, when they were attached, was a plane. You can briefly see it in its flying version in the opening credits:

Info on the aerocar: aerocar
Those of us who had "aged out" of the Brady Bunch, remember Ann B. Davis as Schultzy in the first Bob Cummings show.

 

[RBSinTo]

Fantastic idea!!!!
I'll pass.
RBSinTo

 

[Uke]

Someone cue up the James Bond theme (guitar) music.

 

[fronobulax]

I'm thinking a flying car is not really viable, at least in urban environments. If you need a multi-mode vehicle then it means that mass transit has somehow failed. It might be different in rural areas but I don't see any rational reason to use the ground mode unless flying is prohibitively more expensive or you have an unusual situation where you cannot fly to the destination.

After the Titan we probably want to to put a lot into of thought into the safety issues. Since there are still cases where the airspace over ground property belongs to the land owner, shooting down a drone flying over your house has no real consequences. There are laws that need to be written or changed or expanded before flying cars are going to be "safe".

If I wanted to make one of these things sky and street legal anyway I'd get the FAA to sign off and then worry about the ground. In some places roads are shared with farm buggies, farm equipment, golf carts, cars, trucks, etc. there is probably an existing niche it could be squeezed into.

 

[adorshki]

Someone cue up the James Bond theme (guitar) music.

Actually you want "You Only Live Twice":

Git along Little Nellie**, git along.....

**accessory weapons pack not included.