Comments on: Skycar!

By: Birdcat

Birdcat — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:49:49 +0000

From the Moller International website:
“Actually a computer does the flying. The pilot need only move the controls in the direction he wants to go so that little skill is required. (Still for the time being, the operator will need to have a private pilot’s license until the ease of operation and safety are thoroughly demonstrated.)”

By: nyokki

nyokki — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:20:55 +0000

I doubt it would be much worse than it is now, as Phrye points out, getting a license would mean intensive training. The FAA will just keep them at a low enough level that they would not be in the same airspace as commercial planes. Besides, I want one damnit!

By: Phyreblade

Phyreblade — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:00:27 +0000

Actually, I don’t think that would be necessary. Unlike roads, where the only directions you have to avoid a collision is left or right, a sky car could go in any direction. This should technically make the chances for collisions much less. and there would be less traffic overall, since I doubt everyone would be in the air.

But the advantage, as I see it, is that getting a sky car license should be much, much harder than getting a regular drivers license… It seems like anyone can get a drivers license these days…

By: GrandAdmiralThrawn

GrandAdmiralThrawn — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:21:21 +0000

@# hoChuck

Yes I can; it would be great; less ground traffic

By: HoChunk

HoChunk — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:04:01 +0000

Even if these did work great & were cheap to make, the FAA would never allow the skies to be filled with these things unless the consumer models had an undefeatable autopilot function and some strict “air lane” protocols to go along with it. Try and imagine a skycar being flown by soccermoms, teenagers, the elderly, or just some knucklehead late for an appointment? Can you picture the morning commute if everyone on your block had one of these in the yard?

By: nicklogan

nicklogan — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:20:05 +0000

He’s been at it with the mark 3 for about 25 years. the concept is weak and so is the design of the car. the vehicle does take off, but only about 30 feet off the ground nothing higher. The “turbines” aren’t strong enough.

By: 7footJesus

7footJesus — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:53:40 +0000

I’m pretty sure those aren’t authentic human beings in the cabin in the third (and fourth?) pic. They look kind of like Ken dolls, with maybe a Barbie in the back seat.

By: Dragunov

Dragunov — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:24:30 +0000

What I really wanna know is:

will it blend?

By: Birdcat

Birdcat — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:23:48 +0000

Oh yeah the third pic is totally CGI. The whole thing is stuff of fantasy atm. More R&D is needed as I mentioned in an earlier post.
www.myconfinedspace.com/2009/10/14/this-is-the-future/#comment-266481

Skycar is made by Moller Int., but there’s a company called Urban Aeronautics with a patent on some technological innovation that allows their vehicles to maneuver without tilting, vastly increasing stability. Their best pitch is for the X-HAWK: Medical Rescue and Evacuation model.
www.urbanaero.com/Xhawk_main.htm#Medevac

By: Phyreblade

Phyreblade — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:39:12 +0000

AKA the “will it ever fly?” car…