Is This the First Step Toward a Flying Car?

Actually no; flying cars have been built before. I suspect they have been ungainly compromises, but lightweight composites could make the idea more practical now.

You are correct. They have been built before and they are ungainly compromises. Lighter materials will not likely change this. A flying car is at best a poor car combined with a poor aircraft. That might be excusable for public use but it is utterly unacceptable for the military.

Yeah, one difficulty is folding up the wings or rotor blades, which can be surprisingly long.

How many of the drivers you meet on the road would you want to see flying a car?

Damn few I expect!

For the military - OK, they can make rules to work by and insure they are followed. The general public - no thank you!

Russ

Can you just imagine the chaos caused by an errant driver/pilot of a car-plane who's Twittering, Texting or on the cell phone?

Inside of flying with those a-holes in the sky I think I'd rather walk on the ground wearing MIL-Spec Kevlar helmet and body armor thank you!

Honestly, I swear some peeps got their driver's (and some private pilots too) licenses in supermarket bubble gum machines!!!! LOL