[Red Badger]

A test pilot lands the Personal Air and Land Vehicle PAL-V following a test flight in 2009. Is it a flying car or a driving aircraft? Either way, the Personal Air and Land Vehicle, or PAL-V for short, has just proved it can handle the skies as well as the highway, both at up to 180 kilometres (112 miles) per hour, its Dutch developers said Tuesday.

VIDEO AT LINK

In development since 2008, the first commercial models of the arrow-shaped PAL-V are expected to go on sale in 2014 at 250,000-300,000 euros ($330,000-$400,000), Dingemanse told AFP.

[texson66]

I’m sure at that price they will sell nearly as well as the Volt.

[Hunton Peck]

If it’s driven by that rear-mounted propeller, that could add a little drama to the process of backing out of a parking space...

[SuzyQue]

Very cute! And, in the right color.

[Huskrrrr]

I don’t see a drivetrain for the wheels so I’m assuming the rear prop provides the thrust for road travel?

[Gaffer]

Anyone that drives that thing, on road, at 112 MPH deserves to hit a pothole on the front wheel and plaster themselves into the nearest deadly stationary object. NO way in cowboy hell it is street ready... Take cue from former three wheel ATV manufacturers why don’t you?

[elcid1970]

Autogyros have been around since the 1920’s yet have never progressed beyond the experimental stage except for a WWII Japanese prototype that was said to have been used as a submarine hunter.

And then there was “Little Nellie”, the world’s only attack autogyro, in “You Only Live Twice” of 007 fame.

Interesting, though. Also the Benson Gyrocopter which converted an aluminum skiff into a towed autogyro. One of those Popular Science boats of the future, soon to be within reach of all.

[Joe 6-pack]

"...there is a hitch -- it requires 165 metres of runway to take off..."

Might be able to shorten that up a bit with a good catapult :-)

[AngelesCrestHighway]

Obama's environmentally friendly flying car...

[spel_grammer_an_punct_polise]

I had to fly extensively in helicopters in my youth. I was young, stupid and ‘invincible’.

I’ll never again get on a helicopter unless it has wings.

[aruanan]

The PAL-V:

[bgill]

Yikes, he’s not going to make a three point landing.

[BlueMondaySkipper]

Based on my anecdotal observations of the auto handling ability of the typical “driver”, There is no way I can support allowing them to fly. People who can barely handle two dimensions of motion should not be allowed to add a third.

[PeterPrinciple]

The military is looking at a flying humvee...............

http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2011-10/darpas-flying-humvee-moving-prototype-phase

[Publius6961]

That must have been a wicked crosswind landing!