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This Is The World's First Practical Flying Car
Business Insider ^ | 06/10/2013 | Kyle Russell

Posted on 06/10/2013 7:36:18 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

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To: SeekAndFind

Traffic is bad enough in two dimensions. Horrifying to think of nine jillion idiots late to work and buzzing at different speeds and altitudes in three dimensions.


41 posted on 06/10/2013 8:22:52 AM PDT by ottbmare (The OTTB Mare--now a Marine Mom)
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To: SeekAndFind

until they solve the problem of air traffic control, midair collisions, cars running out of fuel and falling from the sky into people’s yards, etc... it wil never get off the goruns...so to speak. this is all so much pie in the sky


42 posted on 06/10/2013 8:35:37 AM PDT by camle (keep an open mind and someone will fill it full of something for you)
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To: Drawsing
The demo video shows the propellors folding up for “cruising speed”. I guess it becomes a jet aircraft at that point.

No, there's a large ducted fan behind the cabin for main propulsion. I'd guess that the pivoting wingtip props are mechanically coupled to the main engine through the wing roots.

43 posted on 06/10/2013 8:36:52 AM PDT by Charles Martel (Endeavor to persevere...)
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To: qam1
The problem is 98% of the people can’t handle 2 dimensions, adding a 3rd will be a blood bath.

Absolutely.

44 posted on 06/10/2013 8:49:18 AM PDT by Sherman Logan
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To: Charles Martel
I'd guess that the pivoting wingtip props are mechanically coupled to the main engine through the wing roots.

The wingtip props are electric and battery powered. After lift and cruise speed, they operate as windmills to recharge the battery, then fold away.

45 posted on 06/10/2013 8:49:30 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: SeekAndFind

It’s going to be rough getting through class B airspace.


46 posted on 06/10/2013 8:49:54 AM PDT by Signalman
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To: petercooper
Saw one of those idiots the other day- left lane doing 50 with a bumper sticker- “Get off my ass, I’m saving gas”. Fine, want to be a jackass and go under the speed limit- do it in the right lane.

I usually drive 60 on the freeway. Boosted mileage from 30 to 37 mpg.

But I always drive in the right lane. Except when passing, which I need to do surprisngly often.

47 posted on 06/10/2013 8:51:35 AM PDT by Sherman Logan
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To: SeekAndFind
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! *wipes eyes*

The Terrafugia flies as well as an albatross walks. Barely, and in a straight line, using a 5,000 foot runway. This latest puff piece is pure scifi masquerading as news. Aside from the impossibility of this newest version working mechanically, it relies on the skills of a helicopter pilot to fly. Do readers have a clue about what is involved in getting a pilot's license? The average cost to become a private pilot -- rotorcraft/helicopter -- is over $18,000.

Shame on Business Insider. I applaud the kids who invented the Terrafugia for their imagination and tenacity, but hey! It doesn't work.

48 posted on 06/10/2013 8:56:36 AM PDT by pabianice
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To: SeekAndFind

I’d rather be seen in this than a smart car.


49 posted on 06/10/2013 8:57:04 AM PDT by Lurkina.n.Learnin (President Obma; The Slumlord of the Rentseekers)
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To: SW6906

—there’s no way the rear can meet
—the safety standards for rear impact.

Or side impact
Unless it’s registered as a motorcycle (helmet laws?)


50 posted on 06/10/2013 9:20:18 AM PDT by HangnJudge
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To: SkyDancer

This could be fun!


51 posted on 06/10/2013 9:22:16 AM PDT by Northern Yankee (Where Liberty dwells, there is my Country. - Benjamin Franklin)
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To: SeekAndFind

There is an aviation neighborhood near Mooresville, NC (I’m sure there are others around the country) .... It’s a huge runway that also acts as the road the the residences on both sides. All of the homes have private hangers attached to them.

35.613615, -80.739533 ...if you want to see it


52 posted on 06/10/2013 9:29:48 AM PDT by lwd
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To: pabianice

I’d like to learn to fly a chopper.


53 posted on 06/10/2013 9:54:50 AM PDT by wally_bert (There are no winners in a game of losers. I'm Tommy Joyce, welcome to the Oriental Lounge.)
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To: SeekAndFind

54 posted on 06/10/2013 9:55:34 AM PDT by GodBlessRonaldReagan (Surf music is the naked truth)
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To: pabianice
using a 5,000 foot runway

That is the old model, the TF-X, is different, as the article describes.

it relies on the skills of a helicopter pilot to fly

No.

Learning how to safely operate a TF-X™ vehicle should take an average driver no more than five hours.

Take-off, Landing, avoiding other air traffic, etc is to be automated.

http://www.terrafugia.com/tfx-vision

55 posted on 06/10/2013 10:03:29 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: SeekAndFind
That's pretty cool, but those wheels will not survive potholes & the bumpy entrances to businesses. The low ground clearance is a problem, too. That plane will bottom out on traffic calmers. Streets are just not smooth like runways.
56 posted on 06/10/2013 10:13:20 AM PDT by Mister Da (The mark of a wise man is not what he knows, but what he knows he doesn't know!)
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To: Mister Da
bumpy entrances to businesses.

Democrats in the parking lot will use their car doors to dent the wings or worse. "No fair rich white man!"

57 posted on 06/10/2013 10:30:08 AM PDT by Reeses
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To: central_va

Yeah, I got my private pilot license in a C-150.

Luved that little airplane.


58 posted on 06/10/2013 11:58:00 AM PDT by Hulka
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To: Sherman Logan; petercooper

The left lane is NOT the “speed as fast as you can” lane.

It’s the “I’m not exiting soon, nor did I just get on the road, so I’m going to be here a while” lane.


59 posted on 06/10/2013 11:59:56 AM PDT by ro_dreaming (Chesterton, 'Christianity has not been tried and found wanting. ItÂ’s been found hard and not tried')
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To: SeekAndFind

If they have the Chinese manufacture these to make them “more affordable”, I don’t think there’s a cave deep enough anywhere on earth where we’ll be safe.


60 posted on 06/10/2013 6:52:29 PM PDT by jiggyboy (Ten percent of poll respondents are either lying or insane)
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