Posted on 02/21/2025 7:08:53 PM PST by mairdie
That’s one way to avoid congestion pricing.
U.S. automaker Alef Aeronautics proved that the sky’s not the limit for vehicles after releasing the first-ever footage of a flying car like something out of a science-fiction movie.
The groundbreaking fly run starts off typically enough with the black test vehicle — which is 100% electric — driving along a road in California. Then, all of a sudden, it lifts off vertically and soars over another car like a less futuristic scene from the film "Back To The Future II."
Flight is facilitated through a system called distributed electric propulsion, with a mesh layer covering propeller blades to allow air to flow through the vehicle, according to the Daily Mail.
“This is the first publicly released video of a car driving and taking off vertically,” declared company CEO Jim Dukhovny in a recent press release. He compared the automotive milestone to the Wright Brothers’ revolutionary Kitty Hawk video from 1903, Electrek reported.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Aircraft designer Glenn Curtiss built his Autoplane in 1917. It had a pusher propeller for flight, with removable flight surfaces including a triplane wing, canard foreplane and twin tails.
Did it fly?
Do I want to live in a city where women are parking these?
Gushing writer acts like this is the first flying car.
Not even close.
And for those who think these will be practical, let me introduce you to the FAA, pilot licensing, and flight plans.
Which are probably the main real reason flying cars have not become significant.
Since they use the phrase “hoped for” and since he died soon after starting the company, probably it didn’t fly.
*******
Glenn Curtiss: Aviation Entrepreneur | Journeys Through the Finger Lakes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Curtiss
Glenn Curtiss
1926 Developed Opa-locka, Florida and airport facility
1928 Created the Curtiss Aerocar Company in Opa-locka, Florida.
1928 Curtiss towed an Aerocar from Miami to New York City in 39 hours
His frequent hunting trips into the Florida Everglades led to a final invention, the Adams Motor “Bungalo”, a forerunner of the modern recreational vehicle trailer (named after his business partner and half-brother, G. Carl Adams). Curtiss later developed this into a larger, more elaborate fifth-wheel vehicle, which he manufactured and sold under the name Aerocar. Shortly before his death, he designed a tailless aircraft with a V-shaped wing and tricycle landing gear that he hoped could be sold in the price range of a family car
Might be able to land and take off from the top of a parking garage....
While I can park better than my husband, I still dream of a car that will do it for me and take the stress out of the maneuver. Life was much easier with our old MGB or Fiat Spyder. No problem parking. It’s just that you drove tilted in the winter because they were narrower than the ruts made by normal cars.
Now add teenagers.
Wait for these things to start falling out of the sky.
Roads? 🛣️🛣️🛣️
Where we’re going we don’t need roads
🛣️🛣️🛣️🛣️🛣️🛣️
Looks like a large drone poorly disguised as a car.
Reminds me of a funny video some time ago. Guy built a radio control airplane that looked like a John Deere lawnmower.
Yes, no, sorta, maybe.
It is a hovercraft. From the wide dispersal of dirt & rocks, it will be loud.
It’s not a flying car if it can’t be driven on the street. It’s only a car-shaped drone.
More importantly, DID IT LAND !
This will not end well. Aviation is rough enough without a bunch of 1/1045045045 trained pilots !
Think turbulence, lightning, microbursts, etc. etc. etc.
Nevermind the regulations !
and all the ‘no fly’ zones !!!
https://www.invent.org/inductees/glenn-hammond-curtiss
Glenn Hammond Curtiss
Hydroaeroplane
U.S. Patent No. 1,170,965
Inducted in 2003
Born May 21, 1878 - Died July 23, 1930
Glenn Curtiss influenced every field of aeronautics. He holds 72 patents, including designs for dirigibles, aeroplanes, flying boats, commercial aircraft, and Navy planes. Curtiss built one of the first flying machines to land in water and founded one of the first companies created specifically for manufacturing airplanes.
Curtiss was born in Hammondsport, New York and opened a motorcycle shop in 1901. Respected for his quality motorcycle engines, Curtiss built the engine for the California Arrow, the first successful dirigible in America. He also worked for Alexander Graham Bell in the Aerial Experiment Association, designing the June Bug. It included ailerons a device controlling the lateral balance of an airplane making the Wright’s wing-warping obsolete. In 1911, Curtiss designed a seaplane for the Navy, adding retractable landing gear to his design. By the start of World War I, Curtiss was the largest American aircraft manufacturer. His most famous design was the Jenny, which was primarily a military training aircraft for WWI and later used for barnstorming and mail delivery.
Glenn Curtiss is considered the most influential man in the evolution of aviation. His keen insight into aeronautics and aviation, despite having no formal education past eighth grade, affirms his genius. He holds the Collier Trophy and the Langley Medal.
I’ll stick with my transporter, thank you very much.
Considering what’s going on the roads. this is all we need now is flying cars.
LOL
yes
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.