We’ve featured a Swimming Car and a Self-Driving Car… what’s left? A Flying Car
For years inventors have been working on a type of hovercraft that would defy the limits of gravity and enable people to travel in layers, which could solve highway congestion problems within their first 5 minute of use. Of course you would have to come up with a whole new rule system for the road, but let’s not worry about that point for today.
The problem with traditional air fed hovercraft’s, is the air pressure that is created underneath is only sufficient enough to drag a vehicle across the ground with low resistance. Because it is not actually lifting high enough to clear many of the hazards a driver would happen upon, it would not be all that much better than a wheeled vehicle.
Some sci-fi experts claim that in the future we should have the technology to manipulate gravity. This would enable an aircraft to achieve lift off with little effort and propel forward just as effortlessly. But alas it is only 2008 and the best we have to offer right now is reliable rotary turbine engines.
Moller International has been working on just that… a rotary turbine capable of using various fuels, receiving decent gas mileage (20 mpg), and is as reliable as it is safe.
“The Skycarâ€, as Moller calls it, is not exactly a hovercraft, but it does exhibit features that would be considered quite similar to one. This technological marvel is able to lift off vertically from a standstill, hover up into the air and propel itself along a horizontal plane with relative ease.
Would we all need to become licensed pilots to drive one? Well, for the moment you do, but technically the Skycar drives itself and therefore needs no special skills to handle.. You just point the joysticks where you want to go and its computer controlled system takes care of the rest.
The Skycar has two turbine rotary engines engines. In the case of an emergency and one of the engines malfunctions, the other one would still be able to maintain hover and land the vehicle safely.
The two engines combined are rated for up to 4 passengers at a cruising speed of 275 mph and a maximum speed of 375 mph. Each engine runs on ethanol fuel and is capable of a 750 mile range. They are taking deposits for orders already, so grab your credit cards!
Moller was right, you don’t need a propeller with blades.
Now our future’s so bright…
You got to fly with your shades… fly with your shades!
