Rest of story here
Who here would like to own one of these?
I don't drive, never needed to learn, but I wouldn't mind trying one of these.
Flying cars - almost here
- Thread starter Miss Chicken
- Start date
Rest of story here
Who here would like to own one of these?
I don't drive, never needed to learn, but I wouldn't mind trying one of these.
The article is incorrect. A pilot's license would still be required; however, the FAA has authorized a slightly higher weight limit for this vehicle while still allowing it to be classified as a Light Sport Aircraft. (The higher weight limit is the same as that normally authorized for Light Sport Seaplanes.)
This means that one could fly it with only a Sport Pilot's License, as opposed to requiring a full Private license. There are a number of associated benefits (no medical required) and limitations (no flight in controlled airspace, etc).
However, the vehicle apparently still doesn't meet highway crash-test standards, so until that happens it can't be marketed as a street-legal car.
This means that one could fly it with only a Sport Pilot's License, as opposed to requiring a full Private license. There are a number of associated benefits (no medical required) and limitations (no flight in controlled airspace, etc).
However, the vehicle apparently still doesn't meet highway crash-test standards, so until that happens it can't be marketed as a street-legal car.
Thanks for the info, Lindley.
Is an ultra-light aircraft classified as a Light Sport Aircraft? Or don't you need a license at all for ultra-lights?
Is an ultra-light aircraft classified as a Light Sport Aircraft? Or don't you need a license at all for ultra-lights?
Well, this is a good step forward, but the only way flying cars will ever come into popular use is if there is a public system controlling them remotely; they'll have to be prohibited from flying over private property and they will have to be at least as safe as ground vehicles. Considering the difficulties of remotely controlling a vehicle that is subject to wind and weather, I don't think it's likely to happen.
I work for the FAA in the area where this is handled. The last word down the pipe was that ultralights were going to be classified as Sport Aircraft and as such would require a license.
This, and many other changes, such as Certificates required for all Flight Attendants are a result of 9/11. Based on my experience with the Flight Attendant Certificate project, I am perplexed that Jet Blue happens to be one of the top performing airlines in the US because their I/T people are complete idiots.
None of that is going to happen. You're presupposing that the goal is to make such vehicles available to the untrained masses, but that won't ever happen; you'll always need to have a trained pilot at the controls.
The purpose of introducing the Sport license and the associated LSA classification is to make pilot status more accessible to the masses. It still won't be as easy as learning to drive, but it's at least not going to cost $10000 (the average price of earning a private license).
And then every nerd on Earth will purchase the last remaining DeLoreans!
Incidentally, the Transition is not the only flying car under development:
http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/articles/2010/100629maverick.html
http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/articles/2010/100629maverick.html
What they need to do is make it VTOL ... For getting around (over?) those nasty traffic jams.
Time to move underground so as not to have to live in constant fear of a car crashing into your HOUSE.
If by "prohibited" you mean "physically prevented", then yeah.
But why go to that kind of extreme anyway? You don't need flying cars. You need THESE.
This would be great, imagine Carports were you drive in, take off or land, only when you land you just drive right out the gate and continue on down the road......this would be brilliant.
First, it would be impossible to prohibit any type of airplane from flying over private property. Especially with the widespread adoption of GPS in the cockpit, hitting the "direct" button and just going rather than navigating the airway system is becoming increasingly common, especially under visual flight rules (which any LSA would probably be using). What restricted airspace there is already makes things difficult for pilots; making the space above every house restricted up to FL180 would just be insane.
However, there is a regulation specifying certain minimum altitudes over congested areas, which theoretically ought to give the pilot of a stricken aircraft enough time to glide somewhere relatively open for a forced landing.
Second, what we're talking about here is really more of a "road-worthy airplane" than a "flying car". The implication is different. Cars are something everyone has; airplanes are more exclusive. The addition of the LSAs above to the skies would not present any particular threat beyond that already posed by the many small private aircraft up there, because they'll still be fairly exclusive and require significant training to operate. It's not like you're suddenly going to be handed the keys to an airplane with no flight training.
I read recently that the entire General Aviation community uses as much fuel in a year as American automobiles do in a day. There's still a huge gap in relative numbers.
There's a big push right now to get more people into flight schools, however, and these new toys and LSAs in general may help to do that.
However, there is a regulation specifying certain minimum altitudes over congested areas, which theoretically ought to give the pilot of a stricken aircraft enough time to glide somewhere relatively open for a forced landing.
Second, what we're talking about here is really more of a "road-worthy airplane" than a "flying car". The implication is different. Cars are something everyone has; airplanes are more exclusive. The addition of the LSAs above to the skies would not present any particular threat beyond that already posed by the many small private aircraft up there, because they'll still be fairly exclusive and require significant training to operate. It's not like you're suddenly going to be handed the keys to an airplane with no flight training.
I read recently that the entire General Aviation community uses as much fuel in a year as American automobiles do in a day. There's still a huge gap in relative numbers.
There's a big push right now to get more people into flight schools, however, and these new toys and LSAs in general may help to do that.
People are too obsessed with their damned cars anyway. IMHO, in an ideal world, there'd be no need for cars - all transit would be rapid transit (whether it be personal or mass).
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People today cannot handle the following:
1) Stopping at intersections
2) Merging with traffic
3) Proper left-hand/right hand turns
4) Lane changing
5) Proper speed and distance
To top it off, much of the time these same imbeciles are yapping on the phone, texting, eating, shaving, applying makeup and even smoking while attempting any or all of the aforementioned.
Bottom line: it's bad enough they're allowed to drive, I sure as hell don't want them flying.
As MLB said, Mass Transit all the way.
1) Stopping at intersections
2) Merging with traffic
3) Proper left-hand/right hand turns
4) Lane changing
5) Proper speed and distance
To top it off, much of the time these same imbeciles are yapping on the phone, texting, eating, shaving, applying makeup and even smoking while attempting any or all of the aforementioned.
Bottom line: it's bad enough they're allowed to drive, I sure as hell don't want them flying.
As MLB said, Mass Transit all the way.
I am now a total convert to the concept of Personal Rapid Transit. Read the link I posted...I saw that on Mega Engineering a few days ago. Imagine not even having to wait for a train or bus - you get to a station and there's already a car waiting for you. All such cars would be autopilot, of course. No accidents, no pollution, no waiting - and just as important, NO DRIVING. You could sleep, gab, eat, work, etc. while you're in the car. You'd get back all the time you used to lose while driving or waiting. What could possibly be the downside?
Yeah. To hell with flying cars.
Someone invent Montgomery Scott. Now!
Someone invent Montgomery Scott. Now!
