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Flying Car Makes Successful Maiden Flight

Posted by samzenpus on from the I-still-want-my-jet-pack dept.

MistrX writes "The Dutch company PAL-V completed its first series of test flights with its flying car, the PAL-V One, successfully. The PAL-V One flies like a gyrocopter, with a minimal runway length of 165 meters, and drives around like a trike on the road. Furthermore it offers 2 passengers a maximum speed of 180km/h both on land and in the air. The company aims with the PAL-V One at usage within the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Germany and France, because private flying is more commonplace."

13 of 249 comments (clear)

  1. Not a flying car by GameboyRMH · · Score: 5, Insightful

    A roadable aircraft. A flying car needs VTOL capability.

    And until it's legal to take off and land anywhere, even a true flying car could still only be used like a roadable aircraft.

    --
    "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
    1. Re:Not a flying car by Qzukk · · Score: 4, Funny

      If it's a roadable aircraft, does that mean that the cop will have to accept my excuse of "I'm flying low" when he clocks me at 110mph on the freeway?

      --
      If I have been able to see further than others, it is because I bought a pair of binoculars.
    2. Re:Not a flying car by stoolpigeon · · Score: 4, Informative

      You are correct - and it's not a car. It's a two seater trike.

      --
      It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
    3. Re:Not a flying car by GameboyRMH · · Score: 4, Informative

      In all of science fiction flying cars have flown directly from the starting point to destination with no driving to or from airports in between (except some Asimov works where the world is apparently littered with runways). So to follow that definition, this is not a "flying car."

      --
      "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
    4. Re:Not a flying car by X0563511 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I'm pretty sure that the police do not have jurisdiction to shoot down aircraft.

      --
      For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
    5. Re:Not a flying car by Jawnn · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Au contraire, utter the words "possible terrorists" and all bets are off.

    6. Re:Not a flying car by John+Courtland · · Score: 4, Informative

      Better check again, the long flabby arm of the law now operates antiaircraft systems. http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2011/09/manhattans-real-anti-aircraft-battery-stinger-missiles/43062/

      --
      Slashdot is proof that Sturgeon's Law applies to mankind.
  2. Video by HellKnite · · Score: 5, Informative

    As the linked article is basically a wall of text, here's the website which has a video of the maiden flight on the front page:

    http://pal-v.com/

  3. Is it powered by useless apostrophes? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    In that case slashdotters could fuel it for a trip to Andromeda.

    "completed it's first series of test flights with it's flying car"

    "completed it is first series of test flights with it is flying car"

    Really? WHERE did you learn that? STOP IT!

  4. Awesome by CanHasDIY · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Now all someone has to do is invent drivers who aren't complete morons and we'll be in business!

    --
    An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
  5. No quick getaways by cruff · · Score: 5, Informative

    Apparently it is a 10 minute process to convert from road to flying mode. You'll need a team to keep the cop at bay until you can take off, assuming you have about 540 feet available for the take off roll.

  6. Gyrocopter by vlm · · Score: 4, Interesting

    From the fine website, I cut and paste this WTF moment "A PAL-V ONE flies exactly like a gyrocopter, which is the easiest and safest way of flying."

    To be polite, I will just say that opinion is not shared by the majority of aeronautical engineers who are not being paid to say it who know about "old style" autogyros. I'm just mister groundschool with a lot of simulator time and only a couple hours PIC and even I LOLed at that quote. I think they hired that "Baghdad Bob" the former Iraqi information minister for that line.

    Autogyros are cool until the rotor stalls and you die, or the rotor seemingly inevitably cuts your head off in a crash landing, or ground resonance sets in and there's nothing you can do about it but die, PIO due to PPO (and possibly PPO is due to PIO?) and you die... There have been some improvements in design which may or may not prevent those control-theory problems, but the "giant rotating wing" cannot be replaced while still calling it a autogyro. Its like saying you could make a motorcycle safe to ride by merely completely enclosing it with windshields and doors, adding conventional seats with seatbelts and airbags, and adding a couple more wheels for enhanced stability, and ta da, a safe "motorcycle", although it not appears to be a Fiat Punto (which is actually a pretty nice small car, I've driven one a couple hundred miles in IRL).

    The main problem with a "car autogyro" is likely to be chopping up pedestrians and bikers. Which is traditionally seen as "OK" when done by drivers, so maybe its not going to be so bad after all.

    --
    "Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
  7. Um, subby.... by Joce640k · · Score: 5, Informative

    How about a link to their website instead of a dumbass yahoo article without even a photo of the thing?

    http://pal-v.com/

    --
    No sig today...