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Fairly Realistic Flying Car Offered for 2009 Delivery

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the promises-promises dept.

An anonymous reader writes to tell us about yet another promise of a flying car. The Register is reporting on the latest from Terrafugia Inc called the "Transition" which is a combination car and airplane that runs on unleaded gas. The idea is that it's a car that you can drive to the nearest airstrip and, with the touch of a button, convert to an airplane, fly to an airstrip close to your goal, then convert back to a car to reach your ultimate destination. Of course, how many times have we been promised flying cars only to suffer in perpetual disappointment.

6 of 276 comments (clear)

  1. This won't ever become mainstream by MrToast · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This won't ever become mainstream without a serious amount of automated control. We already have enough problems driving in two dimensions. I can't even begin to imagine driving in three.

  2. Similar to the AeroCar by krilid · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This looks very similar to the AeroCar on display at the Seattle Museum of Flight. http://www.airventuremuseum.org/collection/aircraft/Taylor%20Aerocar.asp From what I recall the AeroCar actually came close to serial production back in the 40s-50s, however was ultimately dropped.

  3. Security Checks? by yogibaer · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just imagine, driving a car from the street onto an airstrip, with several gallons of liquids in the tank and a trunk big enough to house a thermonuclear device. Why do you need a button for transfoming it into an airplane? Airport security will dismantle it anyway before allowing it onto the runway and I am sure for a couple of dollars extra, they'll reassemble your car as an airplane. Saves a lot in production cost, if you do not need all the fancy pneumatics, hydraulics and transforming gizmos...

  4. What are the odds...? by butterwise · · Score: 5, Funny

    If the average person is 60 times more likely to die in a car crash than plane crash, what are the odds of dying in a flying car crash?

    --
    If a baby duck is a "duckling," why would anyone want to eat "dumplings?"
  5. Ah, yes, terrafugia by jollyreaper · · Score: 5, Funny

    From the latin, "terra" meaning "ground" and "fugia" meaning "flight into."

    --
    Kwisatz Haderach
    Sell the spice to CHOAM
    This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne
  6. Re:Cmdr. Sisko wants to know -- by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Don't ask, don't tell" is an American thing. I believe the British equivalent is "don't ask, join the Royal Navy".