Slashdot Mirror


Will This Flying Car Get Crowdfunded?

cartechboy (2660665) writes "We all just have too much money on our hands, and we really want a flying car, right? Well that's what Skylys thinks, as it's trying to crowdfund a flying car. According to its website, 'In detail we aim to create an urban dual-mode, hybrid flight and electric drive motorized vehicle that fits into sustainable mobility.' How much money does it need? Oh about $3,111,075. Apparently the company has run out of money and needs more to 'start construction on our two prototypes to confirm our technical specifications; pay the chaps in the legal department; industrial engineers and take up occupancy of our future offices in Silicon Valley, where our backers can of course pay us a visit.'"

15 of 157 comments (clear)

  1. Betteridge's Law sez "Nope." by AuralityKev · · Score: 4, Informative

    They had me until "paying the lawyers."

    1. Re:Betteridge's Law sez "Nope." by sunderland56 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      They had me until "Silicon Valley".

      They aren't building a computer - they are building a car first, an airplane second, with some computer bits inside it. So why choose some of the world's most expensive real estate? Why put your engineering far, far away from any place you could test the flying capabilities?

    2. Re:Betteridge's Law sez "Nope." by CanHasDIY · · Score: 5, Funny

      They had me until "Silicon Valley".

      They aren't building a computer - they are building a car first, an airplane second, with some computer bits inside it. So why choose some of the world's most expensive real estate? Why put your engineering far, far away from any place you could test the flying capabilities?

      Because trendy, vertically integrated social media is the new synergistic paradigm, moving forward with robust sustainability and transparency, resonating with doubled-down, rock star game changers utilizing the bleeding-edge Cloud to future proof value-added, deliverable monetization!

      Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm late for my annual MBA-sponsored lobotomy.

      --
      An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
    3. Re:Betteridge's Law sez "Nope." by NotDrWho · · Score: 4, Funny

      I like your way of thinking. Would it be possible for me to buy your company for several billion dollars?

      --
      SJW's don't eliminate discrimination. They just expropriate it for themselves.
  2. They need more publicity by tooslickvan · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Perhaps if they posted about their product on well know tech blogs with links to contribute then maybe it will work.

    1. Re:They need more publicity by njnnja · · Score: 4, Insightful

      you need much more than publicity.

      ... only if their goal is to actually create a company that manufactures flying cars. If, however, their goal is to take a lot of people's money without giving them any legally recognized equity ownership or role in corporate governance, then I think that publicity is exactly what they need.

  3. Strongly Opposed to Flying Cars by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    I mean them Duke boys won't have enough breath left, it would be all "Yeeeeeeeee" and no "Haw"

    And what then I ask you what. then.

  4. Re:Getting started by gstoddart · · Score: 4, Insightful

    2D traffic sucks here; time to up-grade.

    I see way too many examples of people not understanding how to drive their car in 2D.

    The idea of many of these same drivers being expected to navigate in 3D is terrifying.

    There's a reason why getting a pilots license is much harder than getting a driving license. And the idiots I see around me talking on their phone, texting while driving, and weaving all over the place and making random lane changes ... these people in a flying car would be utterly dangerous.

    --
    Lost at C:>. Found at C.
  5. Doesn't matter if it gets funded. by CastrTroy · · Score: 3, Informative

    It doesn't matter if it gets funded because it won't get built. If it flies, it's controlled by the FAA, and you'll be required to have a pilot's license to fly it. Not only that, but even if it has vertical take off you'll still have to take off from an airport or other helicopter pad or some other designated area. Your neighbours aren't going to stand for the sound of propellers spinning up every morning so you can fly off to work. And spinning props aren't very safe with kids and pets around. If you have to go to the airport and fly from there, and land at another airport, you might as well just drive to the airport, get in a real plane (rented most likely to save money), and then rent a car at your destination. There is simply no reason for a flying car to ever happen.

    --

    Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
    1. Re:Doesn't matter if it gets funded. by Grishnakh · · Score: 3, Informative

      You don't have to fly helicopters from any kind of designated area, as long as you're in Class G airspace. Of course, this excludes probably every municipality, and means you can only land in your backyard if you live in the sticks. And there's still the problem of where to land, unless your office is also in the sticks.

  6. Wake me up they have vacuum dirigibles by sabernet · · Score: 3, Interesting

    When the material sciences are to the point where a lightweight container can sustain Earth atmospheric pressure from crushing down on it, we'll have a practical way to take off vertically without prompting your neighbours to invest in surface to air missiles when you crank the engine on one of these in the morning on your daily commute.

  7. Re:Not getting funded. by Grishnakh · · Score: 5, Insightful

    We already have flying cars: they're called "helicopters". They're absurdly expensive to operate, even the small 2-seater models, they're absurdly difficult to operate and require an enormous amount of training, and they're extremely dangerous.

    If you want a way to move people around faster, the answer is SkyTran.

  8. Re:herpa derp by geekoid · · Score: 3, Informative

    It"s about risks. It was a fair comparison.

    Unlike your comparison, which is not.Near as I can tell, skylys ahs done nothing. Obama on the other hand has done a lot. Here is a short list of his accomplishments:
    Legislative Prowess.
    Despite the characterizations of some, Obama’s success rate in winning congressional votes on issues was an unprecedented 96.7% for his first year in office. Though he is often cited as superior to Obama, President Lyndon Johnson’s success rate in 1965 was only 93%. http://n.pr/i3d7cY

    Fiscal Responsibility.
    Within days after taking office, Obama signed an Executive Order ordering an audit of government contracts, and combating waste and abuse. http://1.usa.gov/dUvbu5

    Created the post of Chief Performance Officer, whose job it is to make operations more efficient to save the federal government money. http://n.pr/hcgBn1

    On his first full day, he froze White House salaries. http://on.msnbc.com/ewJUIx

    He appointed the first Federal Chief Information Officer to oversee federal IT spending. http://www.cio.gov/

    He committed to phasing out unnecessary and outdated weapons systems, and also signed the Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act to stop waste, fraud and abuse in the defense procurement and contracting system. http://bit.ly/hOw1t1 http://bit.ly/fz8GAd

    Through an executive order, he created the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. http://bit.ly/hwKhKa

    Improving the Economy, Preventing Depression.
    Obama pushed through and signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, otherwise known as “the stimulus package,” despite the fact that not one Republican voted for that bill. In addition, he launched recovery.gov, so that taxpayers could track spending from the Act. http://1.usa.gov/ibiFSs http://1.usa.gov/e3BJMk

    In his first year, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act created and sustained 2.1 million jobs and stimulated the economy 3.5%. http://reut.rs/i46CEE

    Obama completed the massive TARP financial and banking rescue plan, and recovered virtually all of its costs. http://1.usa.gov/eA5jVS http://bit.ly/eCNrD6

    He created the Making Home Affordable home refinancing plan. http://1.usa.gov/goy6zl

    Obama oversaw the creation of more jobs in 2010 alone than Bush did in eight years. http://bit.ly/hrrnjY

    He oversaw a bailout of General Motors that saved at least 1.4 million jobs, and put pressure on the company to change its practices, resulting in GM returning to its place as the top car company in the world. http://lat.ms/zIJuQx

    Obama also doubled funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership which is designed to improve manufacturing efficiency. http://bit.ly/eYD4nf

    He signed the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act giving the federal government more tools to investigate and prosecute fraud in every corner of the financial system. It also created a bipartisan Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission to investigate the financial fraud that led to the economic meltdown. http://abcn.ws/g18Fe7

    Obama signed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act, which was designed to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive credit card practices. http://1.usa.gov/gIaNcS

    He increased infrastructure spending after years

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  9. Re:Not getting funded. by geekoid · · Score: 3, Insightful

    No.
    Helicopter are not flying cars. They are a vertical airlift vehicle. Can you drive one around on the free way? take off where ever you want? go to a 30th floor McDonalds drive through?

    This is what people dream of when the want a flying car:
    http://justacarguy.blogspot.co...

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  10. Re:herpa derp by OneAhead · · Score: 4, Funny

    geekoid is Rick Hamell reposting his own list, you insensitive clod!