Would You Buy a Flying Car?
By hofferp
@hofferp (4734)
United States
November 30, 2010 1:17pm CST
As a kid (5-10), I often dreamed about various types of cars that should be made, versus the Ford, Chevy, etc. of the 50s. One I thought of was a "stacker", where there was no back seat. People who usually sat in the back seat would sit up above the front seat. That way there'd be no back seat and everyone would have a front row seat -- some below and some above. It might look a little funny and may not be aerodynamic/stable, but at least you wouldn't hear the kids fight about who gets to sit in the front seat...everyone does. Another car I thought about didn't require a driver. The "controller" would just plug in the destination and the car, using electromagnetics or frequencies or GPS or ??? (as a kid I didn't have a clue as to the technology that would be required), would follow a rail (or some sort of sensing device along side the road) and just zip you to your destination. Since everyone would be going the same fast speed, there'd be no accidents and your dad and mom wouldn't fight about whether that turn back there was the turn or the one coming up. Another car I dreamed about could fly. When you came up to a slow car, you'd just put your car in to flying gear and fly over the slow car and then return to the road after you'd passed. Well someone's come close to my idea, not exactly, but close for a starter. What do you think? I don't know how much one of these cars cost, but would you buy one, if it was reasonably priced?
http://www.eaavideo.org/video.aspx?v=635469588001
1 person likes this
12 responses
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
30 Nov 10
Hi, Gabs. I guess if you don't like to fly, this isn't the car for you! I'd like a combination of this flying car and one that runs in water...now there's a real car for you. You could go anywhere! But, my finances dictate I stay on the ground most of the time. If I had the money, I'd be in a air/water/land vehicle!
1 person likes this
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
30 Nov 10
Yup, that in my mind, is the biggest drawback. Do we control these vehicles with air traffic control, highway patrol or a new entity designed just for flying cars? I've been on the lake with boats going every direction at every speed (even though there are "rules on the water"), and it can be scary as he** at times. If enough of these vehicles are sold, I'm betting the rules will follow shortly. Have a great day, Dawn!
1 person likes this
@SHAMRACK (8576)
• India
1 Dec 10
Dear friend,
Imaginary world is really nice, but to make it real is bit difficult, those fantasy world it is really wonderful. When I was a child I dreamed to have wings of for me to fly without any tiredness, next the wings just would be kept into my body. A car that could fly would be amazing, hope it would be soon invented with those advancement in technology.
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
1 Dec 10
Did you get a chance to see the attached video? Someone has made a flying car. It doesn't look like the one I imagined, mine had wings, not a sail, but this one works. I also understand that Toyota and some other car manufacturers are working on a version of my "controller" car. I'm in my 60s, but I'm hoping in my lifetime to ride in the flying car and the "controller" car. I think my "stacker" car will stay a dream.
@JudgeIronFist (2472)
• Singapore
1 Dec 10
Haha! Your flying car idea was exactly the same as mine!!! I thought about it when I was going for badminton with my father, as sometimes, there will be traffic jams and I thought that if the car had wings and jet engines, I could fly it and then when I reach the destination, I'll just land back onto the road as a car and then drive straight in. LOL!!! Nice idea you have there!!!
1 person likes this
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
1 Dec 10
No, JudgeIronFist, what a great idea you had! You know what they say about "great minds"? On one version of a car I thought about, I think it came up before the flying car, when you came up on a slow car, you'd just push a button and the car would lift up on a scissor-like gizmo. The car would raise up high enough to clear the car in front of you and the scissor-like gizmo would widen, so it/the tires would also clear the car (and mirrors) in front of you. You'd go over the top of the slow car and come down in front of it and be on your merry way. A flying car was more efficient/effective, so I gave up on my idea of a scissor car. But it could still have applications, like in the city... Keep on dreaming, JudgeIronFist!
@wiggles18 (2506)
• Canada
30 Nov 10
I wouldn't want to have a flying car, but I'd love to have some sort of compact jet pack. It'd be so much easier to get around on a single manned compact jet pack, than a 2-4 person flying car. However, not as much carrying space.
1 person likes this
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
30 Nov 10
If I had the money, a compact jet pack would be cool too. But I think it would be limited in utility. You could use it in the city to get from block A to block T, but if you wanted to drive from NYC to TN, I don't think I'd want to do it with a jet pack. But I would use the flying car to get from NYC to TN. I'm not sure how many people this new flying car holds. It can't be but two from the looks of it. But that's ok. I think we need both in our garage... Thanks, Wiggles.
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
1 Dec 10
Well, nuclear doesn't have a great reputation in the U.S., but I think it's been given a bum rap. So a micro-nuclear reactor that really zooms you along at top speeds over long distances would be alright. I'd just want to be sure the suit I was wearing was really wind/weather proof.
@wiggles18 (2506)
• Canada
30 Nov 10
Yeah, jet packs wouldn't be very reliable for long distance flights, not until they come out with some sort of micro-nuclear reactor or other super energy source.
1 person likes this
@nerein (283)
• United States
30 Nov 10
Honestly I don't really drive in the first place. Cars are too expensive to keep up with. Now as far as a flying car goes I would suppose that the controls on the car would have to be different to accommodate for the fact that you are not on the road but in the air. I think that a flying car would be more like flying an airplane. Like I said I do not really drive any way. A flying car would be more expensive on the up keep than a regular car so I do not think that I would buy or own a flying car.
1 person likes this
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
30 Nov 10
I'm sure the flying car will be expensive. The video didn't talk about the cost; I'm sure for good reason. As for driving it, the guy in the video said driving this flying car was just like driving a car even while flying. It certainly looked simple enough. I'd like to see one up close and personal, then comment. But the concept is pretty cool. Thanks, Nerein, for your thoughts.
@laglen (19759)
• United States
30 Nov 10
I too dreamt of flying cars and the rail cars that you can just snooze and the ar will get you there! I couldnt open your link because our internet is running so flippin SLOW. I cant open any decent websites... gggrrr
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
30 Nov 10
That sounds like a great idea! I would not buy one as I'm 56 and I'm sure my car will last till I quit driving.
One idea I had was tubes, kind of like on the Jetsons.
1 person likes this
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
30 Nov 10
Hey, I'm 61 and I'd get one if I had the money. I think it would work great where I live. I live about 30 minutes (15 miles) out of town and have to traverse a 2-mile rock road before I get to pavement. Then the pavement goes at 90-degree angles in to town, versus straight in. A flying car would take me straight from my house to University Avenue where I'd get back on the road and deal with the traffic. I'd save 25 minutes easily each way. And I'd save my truck from getting beat to heck on the rock road. I also like the tubes idea. I can see it coming in handy in a big city. Maybe we can have both!
@Elixiress (3878)
•
1 Dec 10
I could totally do with a flying car right about now, since we have inches of snow at the moment. Being able to fly, would be a lot easier than having to dig my car out and try and get along the roads until I come to a clear road.
However, I don't think that I would buy that particular car because it is the first model and they tend to be pretty unreliable, I like something tried, tested and improved and something a little more stylish.
@Elixiress (3878)
•
2 Dec 10
My cul-de-sac looks like a run way at the moment lol. Everyone has been out clearing their drive today, so going from my house down to the main road does look like it might make a good run way for this car lol.
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
2 Dec 10
Unfortunately, I think you need enough speed to take off, which means you might have to clear a pretty good section of road near your car. That might be more work than anyone person can handle, unless, of course, you have a snow plow. I'm with you, I would want to buy the second or third version, so they could work out all the kinks with the first or second version. And the styling could use some work. It looks a little flimpsy to me and I would prefer a white car since I live in the desert. Thanks for your thoughts, Elixiress.
@nikhil_sun (576)
• India
30 Nov 10
A flying car is quite an imaginative idea.Well, as long as there are not going to be too many flying cars in the air, I do not mind owning one and flying it.But I think if I want to fly then I might rather have my own plane which is a more conventional way of flying.
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
30 Nov 10
Owning a plane is too expensive for me. My BIL has one and I couldn't even pay for the storage, let alone the maintenance, fuel, etc. And with a plane, you need a runway, airport, etc. With this car, you can land on the road, which to me is a big deal. Now, too many flying cars in the air could be a problem. I imagine a lake with too many boats all going various directions, at various speeds, etc., and having been there, that can be really scary at times. I'm sure we'd need "rules of the road/air" established to keep everyone safe...to the extent we can. Thanks for your comments.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
1 Dec 10
That would be a very interesting means of transportation! Wow..I would probably be one of the last people to have one because I am always waiting for the price to go down on stuff before I take the plunge but once that happened and I saw everyone else was doing well with it...I'd get one...lol.
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
2 Dec 10
Yeah, one time I bought the first car off the line. It was a lemon. Now, I buy only cars/trucks that have been tested and tested and tested. I'd be one of those who holds off too, not just because I can't afford it, but I'd want them to work out all the kinks before I buy. At my age, crashing isn't appealing at all. And I'd like to know what the "rules" are going to be for driving/flying. I can't afford any tickets!
@teamrose (1492)
• United States
30 Nov 10
I love all your ideas about the cars. The car that drives itself is already in the plans at toyota and a few other car companies. A flying car is already built, just have to get the price down. As far as the double stacked car, I bet if the car companies had a drawing the concept could/would be tried.
1 person likes this
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
30 Nov 10
I've heard about Toyota and other car companies' attempts to build my "controller" car. Maybe in my lifetime I'll actually get to drive one. I'd be interested in what technology they finally use. A scientist in the 70's told me they'd looked at a "controller" car using electromagnetics, but it would have been too expensive to line all the roads in the US with the sensors/rails/?, so the idea was dropped. And here I thought I was the first to think of it! As for the "stacker", I'm sure they'd laugh because it would be top heavy, certainly not aerodynamic...and it wouldn't be a seller for old people who'd have to crawl to the second level. Just imagine though all the space to be saved in parking lots! Thanks for your thoughts, Teamrose.
