I have always been wondering about a flying car since childhood. Flying car? Huh? How? I went out with a few friends the other day, and we did mentioned sports cars etc., and a friend goes like "imagine a flying Supra in the sky would damn cool". But, hey, it sounded really cool if that do exist. In the meantime, I recalled reading some articles back in year 2004, when some researcher specify their future production, which focuses on flying cars (I think they use similar approach as those aeroplanes).


Caption: prototype model of the first helicopter-liked (PALV) flying motorcycle

This is the vision strived by the technological area by many experts since 1918, a new symbol of flight. In fact, I have read about this, a couples of months ago, a company which have some plans in manufacturing the PALV (Personal Air and Land Vehicle Company). They even sketched a model (though it look more like a helicopter than a flying motorcycle to me), which catches my attention to continue reading more and more articles of such research into flying cars. If you look in-depth to the picture in the above, you will see this motorcycle with a helicopter wing well-hidden on the top of the car roof.

In year 2008, the first flying car has deliberately pronounced (in the world) to be ready for departing. Four years ago (in 2005), a company (called Terrafugia, company website: click HERE) founded in Massachusetts (US) by a group of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Aeronautics and Astronautics graduates has built a foundation for flying car has finally be ready for take off in February 2009 (first experiment conducted). There is a short discussion held at the US, discussing by different experts in this area that they are not sure if this piece of work is up to the Wright brothers (the first two persons who developed flying machines, i.e. aeroplane) but is definitely similar to their approach.


Caption: N302TF flying car (i)


Caption: N302TF flying car (ii)

The flying cars are currently at the phase of testing, and should be ready for sale in the next few years (some people suggest in 2015) with the price tag from USD $ 148, 000 onwards. Initially, the flying car was pronounced to be sold at the price of USD $ 1.0 Million but due to the massive production of similar sky cars, Terrafugia indicate to lower the price of the car to USD $ 60, 000 (I heard you can reserve one of these cars for yourself now when you make 5% payment as deposit to them). However, the chief operating officer working in Terrafugia said they are not going to have a flying car at least for a while since this is considered as a roadable aircraft, which will need to pass through different consideration stages by the govenment in the US. Two major issues concerning to this car are: (1) Currently, in the U.S., they does not has the infrastructure to support vehicles that both fly in the air and travel on surface roads regularly, and (2) The sky filled with small planes piloted by people who do not have pilot's licenses and could promote to some serious problem in the future.

I will subsequently post 'some' specification of the flying car here:

1. Performance:
Cruise: 100 kts (115 mph) Takeoff over 50' obstacle: 1700'
Rotate: 70 kts (80 mph) Fuel burn: 5 gph
Stall: 45 kts (51 mph) Fuel tank: 20 gallons
Range: 400nm (460 mi) Useful Load: 430 lbs
On road: 30 mpg, highway speeds Light Sport Aircraft (LSA)

2. Dimensions:
Folded: 6’ 9” Tall: 80” Wide: 18’ 9” long
Airplane: 6’ 3” tall 19’ 2” Long Wingspan: 27’ 6”
Cockpit: 51” at the shoulder

3. Convenience
a. Front wheel drive on the ground
b. Automotive-style entry and exit
c. Two place, side by side
d. Automated electromechanical folding wing
e. No trailer or hangar needed
f. Cargo area holds skis, fishing poles or golf clubs
g. SafetyDrive in case of inclement weather
h. Proven 100 hp Rotax 912S engine
i. Full Vehicle parachute available
j. Modern glass avionics
k. Automotive crash safety features

Many experts have produced their very first prototype of a flying car. However, the design of the cars are not really attractive, isn't it? :) Anyway, a different flying car manufacturer called Moller (website address: HERE) has developed their first skycar. I am sure most of you have heard of this famous person called Henry Ford. He is not only the founder of the Ford Motor company but has encouraged many car companies (i.e. Moller) to start building flying space-machine with his slogan: "Mark my word: A combination airplane and motorcar is coming. You may smile. But it will come" since 1940. Surprisingly, that really happened in 2008.


Caption: skycar

The Skycar is a car which was completely operated by computer and completely guided by the GPS systems. The purpose is to ensure safety in general public (probably to avoid unecessary accidents). In the case of accidents, they will have the ABS system (airbags and perhaps releasing parachutes immediately when the car crashes). However, one drawback from this car is that it only able to get you as far as 500 miles every single trip. I strongly agree that the car would have some regeneration power for the next 500 miles attempt (if not, they should do something to enhance the capability of such machine in the near future). The speed is to reach 120 miles / per hour in flight. This vehicle was produced since 2006, but the development is expanding due to different circumstances: such as to increase the fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.


Caption: Moller's Skycar (M400)

Moller's latest production (design) is the Skycar called M400. It is designed to take off and land vertically, like a Harrier Jet, in small spaces. It can reach to a maximum speeds of 400 mph (equal to 644 kph), but will cruise at around 350 mph (equal to 563 kph), and it has a range of 900 miles (1449 km). Gasoline, diesel, alcohol, kerosene and propane can be used to fuel the Skycar, and its fuel mileage will be comparable to a medium-sized car that we find on road, getting 20 miles (32.2 km) to the gallon. Similar to the Terrafugia's flying car, the initial cost of a Skycar should be USD $1.0 million, but once it begins to have a mass production, the price should slim down as low as $60,000. This car has 4 seats and 2 different engines to sustain the flight appopriately. The engine has 720 horsepower, which makes this car a very powerful one.

In my personal view of expectation from the flying car, that is this machine would provide substantial profits to certain people, i.e. folding the wings out and could simply take off in a busy street (although it sounded a little unusual when everyone doing the same thing). It certainly will help to save much time! Of course, similarly to the Terrafugia's production, they have to get through the two major issues concerning to flying cars in the world today (mentioned in the above).