Flying Car--very cool.
- Thread starter beasly
- Start date
A
Adler
Guest
That thing is an absolute waste of time and money. It didn't meet the LSA requirements - but they got the weight increased for them. Ok, the FAA's happy now, but what about the highway safety standards? They are allowed with the exemption to weight 1430lb gross. Howbout those little Smart Cars which scared to drive - 1808lb empty!
Safety aside, what else could be wrong with it? Oh yea, potholes! Just imagine what one pothole can do to your car, a car with a normal sized tire... Also, how about those rocks that get kicked up? I'd hate to loose a $200,000+ toy because of one rock.
At an anticipated price of close to $200k who will buy it! I'd much rather buy a Corvette to get me to the airport where I keep my T6 and Cub on floats, and still have money to spare.
This thing will fail just like every other flying car - I mean roadable aircraft.
Wait, there's been flying cars in the past; I thought this one was the first? Wrong! The first flying car was the Waterman Aerobile which flew in 1937. Ok I'll admit that it doesn't look like a car, but you can't say the the 1949 Taylor Aerocar didn't. The Aerocar III even outperforms the Terrastupid in nearly every dimension.
Flying cars are nothing new...to bad the Terrafuiga hasn't improved on them.
Now, the Martin "Jetpack". Notice how I put Jetpack in quotes? There is no jet on that thing; it's a Rotax engine with ducted fans! I saw it ''fly'' at Oshkosh...two men had to hold the thing so it wouldn't fly uncontrollably away or tip over. Check out the video here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/observethebanana/2724428781/
And don't get me started on the Icon....
Safety aside, what else could be wrong with it? Oh yea, potholes! Just imagine what one pothole can do to your car, a car with a normal sized tire... Also, how about those rocks that get kicked up? I'd hate to loose a $200,000+ toy because of one rock.
At an anticipated price of close to $200k who will buy it! I'd much rather buy a Corvette to get me to the airport where I keep my T6 and Cub on floats, and still have money to spare.
This thing will fail just like every other flying car - I mean roadable aircraft.
Wait, there's been flying cars in the past; I thought this one was the first? Wrong! The first flying car was the Waterman Aerobile which flew in 1937. Ok I'll admit that it doesn't look like a car, but you can't say the the 1949 Taylor Aerocar didn't. The Aerocar III even outperforms the Terrastupid in nearly every dimension.
Flying cars are nothing new...to bad the Terrafuiga hasn't improved on them.
Now, the Martin "Jetpack". Notice how I put Jetpack in quotes? There is no jet on that thing; it's a Rotax engine with ducted fans! I saw it ''fly'' at Oshkosh...two men had to hold the thing so it wouldn't fly uncontrollably away or tip over. Check out the video here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/observethebanana/2724428781/
And don't get me started on the Icon....
p1l07m4n
SF340 Pirate, First Mate
Yeah, and with some of those parking lot hit and runs or even someone opening their door into your airplane/car, it wouldn't be worth it. It could be cool, but I would just hate to see how much money you would need to spend to keep that thing airworthy.
Firebird2XC
Well-Known Member
Er.. neat engineering... but do we really want every Sunday driver taking to the skies?
Just sayin'.
Just sayin'.
KSCessnaDriver
Well-Known Member
So you think a sport pilot is somewhat of a lesser pilot? Or please explain where you are going with this though. They still have to have a pilot certificate to fly the thing.
IslandFlyer
Well-Known Member
I really don't think these people plan on driving down the interstate with it.
Probably fly to their airport and then drive to their hangar.
Probably fly to their airport and then drive to their hangar.
jaded
Well-Known Member
ComplexHiAv8r
Well-Known Member
You mean like current Cirrus pilots?? Wait, I'm one, maybe I should be ordering one.
Rumor is they are talking to GM about taking over the Moraine, OH Truck plant to build it.
SeanD
Well-Known Member
I guess they are moving forward on the production for the thing. $200k a pop.
What rating would be required and who would instruct in the thing? I might be a little nervous to see these things buzzing around an already busy air traffic system. It is kind of cool though.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/06/30/transition.flying.car/index.html?hpt=T2
What rating would be required and who would instruct in the thing? I might be a little nervous to see these things buzzing around an already busy air traffic system. It is kind of cool though.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/06/30/transition.flying.car/index.html?hpt=T2
KSCessnaDriver
Well-Known Member
Its an S-LSA. You would need a sport pilot or better certificate with SEL privileges. Any CFI could teach in it, unless the FAA does something really dumb with the certifications.
JeffMSU
New Member
They will sell a bunch right at the beginning and all the media outlets will go crazy. Then a year later, all the media outlets will be all over it because of an accident or how it was a major disappointment.
I'll have my "I called it" piece from the Colbert Report video when it happens.
I'll have my "I called it" piece from the Colbert Report video when it happens.
SeanD
Well-Known Member
Kind of like the Eclipse jet fiasco?
intern_mike
E-175 f/o
It's such an eyesore. For the money, I'd rather have an Icon A5 or Porsche 911 turbo. Buy a proper aircraft.
flyingmaniac
Well-Known Member
Wonder how high can this thing go? I really doubt any higher than 5,000' to get over that mountain. The thing has a mulitude of drag devices that would prevent it from going high and fast.
Firebird2XC
Well-Known Member
No, I'm just suggesting every drooling moron in the country might get the idea that they too, can be a pio-let.. not that current LSA or small airplane pilots are morons.
Everybody in this country drives- they treat it like a right, not a responsibility. That's what I'm driving at. Don't want those types in the sky.
KSCessnaDriver
Well-Known Member
Roger and I agree 100% there. Its just I've seen too many people who are ever so quick to jump on the "sport pilots don't belong in the sky" wagon, that I'm quick to call people on it. Good to see that wasn't the case here
My thoughts exactly. Plus having to do a thorough preflight every single time you run in the 7-11 for 5 seconds to make sure nobody bumped into it would get a little old. Cool idea, but I honestly can't see it catching on...And it's ugly. Airplanes should be at least semi attractive.