Meet George Jetson....

[MakiSupaStar]

So uh...

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/to...cle5489287.ece


I don't know. Kind of a big blind spot. What kind of license would you need for this thing?

[MJ5150]

Oh boy, there are plenty of idiots in the USA with $200K to blow on this thing.

-Mike

[Jared Lash]

I've never understood all these future visions of flying cars. Don't we have enough bad drivers/drunk drivers/accidents as it is?

Now a functional jetpack? That's a whole 'nother story.

[sarcastro83]

Originally Posted by TheBigO

I've never understood all these future visions of flying cars. Don't we have enough bad drivers/drunk drivers/accidents as it is?

Now a functional jetpack? That's a whole 'nother story.

I am ALL for a functional jet pack... or one of those tiny helicopters that Bond uses in You Only Live Twice...

[tplyons]

You're mixing a dangerous vehicle with another more dangerous vehicle.

Imagine the training this would require.

FAA regulations would be a pain in the ass.

And can you say blind spots? With those wings folded up.

[MakiSupaStar]

Originally Posted by TheBigO

I've never understood all these future visions of flying cars. Don't we have enough bad drivers/drunk drivers/accidents as it is?

Now a functional jetpack? That's a whole 'nother story.

Personally, I'm holding out for the day we can fax ourselves to different locations.

[hover]

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

Personally, I'm holding out for the day we can fax ourselves to different locations.

Mmmm, Brundlefax...

[Jeff Martinez]

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

Personally, I'm holding out for the day we can fax ourselves to different locations.

I'd settle for the technology to have bacon faxed directly to me.

[excane]

This is ALL you need:

[RED5]

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

That ain't the "world's first flying car". Not by a long shot.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/flying-car1.htm

Got that right. Concept is decades old at least. The Taylor Aerocar in what? 1946? We wereall slated to live in communities that had runways out back so you could just commute into your home hanger at the end of your day. Me? i'm waiting for anti-gravity to become readily affordable.

[theshadow2001]

actually I think it's a step in the right direction. The link that Marcus Johnson provided has been in the works for years.

People would immediately think that if something like this was common place that a person would actually be driving them.
However we should be striving towards a total and complete removal of the human factor when it comes to personalised transport. As in sit in, tell it where you want to go, press the big button and bing bang bosh there you are. The problem with cars is that people drive them it's as simple as that. Mercedes have introduced technology that will automatically stop the car by itself as the car in front slows and stops. Or cars that will parallel park by themselves.

Slowly but surely the human is getting removed.

Adding a 3rd dimension not only removes the need for infrastructure but it also reduces the risk of collision since vehicles could be more spread out in a 3d space. Think of having layers upon layers of roads rather than just one. Couple that with automatically guided vehicles and you have a safer mode of transport.

The old saying stands true. The most dangerous part of a car is the nut behind the wheel.

[TallLankyBastyd]

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

Personally, I'm holding out for the day we can fax ourselves to different locations.

Be careful... I'm STILL in trouble here at work for faxing a "part" of me to different locations!!

[fitbass3p]

Jaunting.

'Nuff said.

[DudeistMonk]

Its coming but first we need infrastructure...They are working on "video game like" flight paths for people/auto pilot programs to follow that would make it very easy for the average person to fly....We also need to work on vertical take off.

[Lucky Strike]

Assuming the driver has a pilots license and uses a proper run way I don't see any problems with it. Otherwise, don't sell them to people who don't have a pilots license. The problem is that the technology is still to early in development which makes it primitive and really expensive. If later down the road they can make them cheaper and more effective I'd love to have one.

[ubado]

Originally Posted by Lucky Strike

Assuming the driver has a pilots license and uses a proper run way I don't see any problems with it. Otherwise, don't sell them to people who don't have a pilots license. The problem is that the technology is still to early in development which makes it primitive and really expensive. If later down the road they can make them cheaper and more effective I'd love to have one.

It seems as though one would have to both licenses. And unless you live in Alaska ... you can't take off from roads anyway. So the only real benefit that I can see, is no more having to park your car ... then fly your plane. But if you have $200k to spend, then parking your car isn't much of a burden anyway .... just use a taxi service.

[Tsal]

Originally Posted by Lucky Strike

Assuming the driver has a pilots license and uses a proper run way I don't see any problems with it. Otherwise, don't sell them to people who don't have a pilots license.

I doubt anyone without a pilot's license could get the thing off the ground safely. But yeah, why not. All you need is a bunch of private runways to land/take off on. I can see some time savings if you'd have to visit more than one place.

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by ubado

It seems as though one would have to both licenses. And unless you live in Alaska ... you can't take off from roads anyway.

I agree, you'd need both licenses...but as far as roads, you haven't spent much time in the Western U.S., I take it??

[WashburnBasser]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

I agree, you'd need both licenses...but as far as roads, you haven't spent much time in the Western U.S., I take it??

He means that it is illegal to take of from roads in any state but Alaska.

[santucci218]

His boy Elroy.