Video: Commute by flying car

Think of all the idiots driving cars and imagine them falling out of the sky!

Flying cars is a very stupid idea!

From the perspective of a private pilot, turning the average driver loose in a three axis vehicle, even one that is auto stabilized, is a recipe for disaster.

Did you notice that the vehicle in question has little or no downward visibility.
Have you watched an average driver try to park?

Now add wind and possible decreased visibility, (rain fog, etc.), and remember that your average driver can get lost on the way to the 'Quicky Mart `.

The problem is not the vehicle, - it's the nut that holds the wheel.

PRBARRY: Go back to history books, the reactions for the appearance of the first motorised vehicle was very much similar than to yours now, "Real stupidity, the passengers will die, as the human body will not tolerate any speeds higher than 50 mph..."

And as for you guest, (reply #2) carefully read the byword below.

People who are trying to stop progress, in my humble opinion, are a lot worse than few who will fall out of the sky, trying these new innovations....Your basic misunderstanding is that these "flying cars", in their end configuration, will need no pilot. even now, at their present configuration are so aerodynamically unstable, that even you Guest pilot, can't fly them and they are 100% computer controlled. I am afraid that your next question will be "and what happens if he computer...." enough said.

Wangito

BTW: Yes I am an Israeli, 30 plus years commercial pilot CFI,CFIH, and a great believer in technology.

The initial reactions were correct about the automobile, they cause a large percentage of the deaths, and most deadly accidents happen at higher speeds.

We ought to develop the technology, but the training requirements need to be held to high standards, much higher than today.

I am an engineer, and from my perspective, the average human doesn't have the patience to put forth the effort required to become an expert at almost anything.

EMW3

There are several attempts at this, Moeller, etc. Check out www.gizmag.com under Aero

Biggest problem is stabilizing something sitting on a "mound" of air. All of the VTO attempts I have seen push the air down so you are sitting on an inherently unstable point.

The only solution I can see is to drop the center of gravity (perhaps a pod design) below the two or four VTO engines and somehow force the dynamics by streamlining the "pod"

At 3-6 million per copy, I doubt very many people will have such (big) pocket change laying around to "afford" such a low performing vehicle. This is a specialized vertical lifter, not an "aircar" of common use.

The flying car is not one type of design and can take many shapes and aerodynamic strategies. This design is not new and have many very limiting "issues" that will doom it to the "how not to make a flying car" history books. Moller skycar is also flawed in the same general basic concept.

To make a flying car you do NOT need to take off vertically or to hover, although it would be nice. You need high impulse power for 15 seconds to lift of and transition from a common road or parking lot, not a continuous power like Moller and the these guys seem to think is needed.

The reason flying cars are not available is: 1) power source, 2) power source, 3) power source...all fit into a design that when the power goes out, which it will, the vehicle glides safely to the ground and lands in <50ft. Moller and this design cannot meet this BASIC test of safety and will always cost massive amounts because the engine will need to be 100,000 times more reliable than Windows XP. When you add in computer control, triple redundancy, and all the backup power systems, it becomes a massive cost. Ever seen how many "cards" are needed to control a "modern" fighter jet? At that moment you will realize that computer control cars are not going to be the way to go for at least 30-50 years, if ever.

People do not like a computer to control their car's motion. Much of the fun of flying is in flying, not being a passenger. People like to drive cars and not be guided down the road for the same reason. One can easily couple a GPS with "off the shelf" equipment to an autopilot once airborne, but that last little bit is very hard, and risky, all of which cost money.

<Off soapbox>

The disheartening thing about maturing is having to see the same ridiculous concepts reexplored, and ultimately rejected, for the 2nd and third go-a-rounds in one's dwindling life span. Goes to show that human animals and societies are incapable of learning from mistakes. Solomon had it right all along; and still does today.

...Israeli company is developing prototypes ...

It makes perfect sense: While Israel's authorized flying zone is so tiny, why not develop something for the wide-wide-world...

Kites not registered here, are shot down...