Has The Flying Car Truly Arrived?

Its about time, This is great news, I can't wait to buy one. :-()

Some folks have trouble on flat roads ~~ add another two dimentions (up , down) -- When airborn, subtract brakes, turn signals, horn, dimmer switch, rear view mirror and reverse gear...(Hope the 'landing gear' doesn't retract !)...
I'm a Comm Pilot --- Don't think I want one ;-)

I READ AN ARTICAL ON A SIMALAR CAR LIKE THIS ON THIS SPACE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. IT WAS BRIGHT RED AND WOULD BE FLYING WITHIN 2 YEARS----"I THINK NOT" I NEVER SAW IT AGAIN. IT WAS MUCH BETTER LOOKING THAN THIS PLANE. BUT TO MY REGRET THIS WONT BE FLYING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SOON EITHIER.--MAYBE IN 25 OR SO YEARS, BUT THAT MITE EVEN BE TO SOON.

A helicopter? wow, how many people actually know how to pilot a car correctly? much less a plane, and a helicopter is just the worst of them all.
2nd, the fuel consumption of a helicopter is so outstanding that not only will you need jet fuel here and there but the cost of operating would be so great that the time saved will not offset the costs of owning.
3rd. assuming that 10% of the population owns one of these things than you will have more than one of them landing at one helipad, hmm that means lines or "heli traffic jams" to use that pad. Very similar to what we already see at the airports and most of it is mass transport. what would happen if all of those 32 passangers in first row decided to take their flying car or helicopter? if each vtol takes about 5 to 10 minutes to maneuver to a landing area, you would have so much traffic that cars would be the more likely choice.
anyhow, one day some fool invented cars, everyone opposed it but they turned out to be so damn useful, now we are stuck with them and are considering bicycles, motorcycles, evo's and what not to replace them.
I can only wonder what my kids will be considering to replace their VTOL's ( if the idea ever takes off)

Paraphrasing some aeronautical engineer a few months ago. “Flying cars, are not that far off, because anyone can put metallic looking cardboard around a Cessna, Piper or even cardboard to look like a big stretched limousine. The reality of it is, if someone comes up with a VTOL craft that people can park in their garage, back out to the driveway, take off like a helicopter, fly 80 nautical miles to work, then land close to their place of work, then drive 5 – 10 miles to work, that’s the only way it’ll work. People can then live 100 miles from work. I live near DC and it’s common for people here to live 80 – 100 miles away. What is more realistic, is four or five families going in on a four – five place helicopter, then they can live 100 miles from work. They fly to the nearest helipad, and then drive a little car to work. Other than that, you would need too many runways for these flying cars. Existing helicopters continue to decrease in price. And a helipad might only be one mile from your place of work. You can’t allow people to just land anywhere they want. Until a car can take off like a helicopter (VTOL) it's not practical in large metro areas. Even for existing helicopters, you might be able to have several landing pads on a piece of ground the size of a baseball field. Cars that take off like airplanes will just be for showing off.”

G-mann, . . I wouldn't ordinarily mention something like this if it was not such an ignorant F-Up ! . . But, this is so clearly NOT an simple mistake nor is it a Typo, . . it just HAS TO BE DISCUSSED !!! . . .
"DO" TO A 20 CARPLANE PILE UP" WAS WRITTEN EXPACLY HOW YOU WERE THINKING RATHER THAN HOW IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN, . . THE CORRECT WAY WOULD BE, . . "D U E" TO - - - - - "DUE" !! . . NOT "DO" !! . . TO !!! . . .
GOT IT ????????

This is really a beautiful little piece of engineering and innovation. However, . . Rookie aviators had better know that flying is nothing like driving on stable, flat, straight pavement ! . . . I'd like to see my grandma land in the 35 M.P.H. Crosswind that's shown near the end of this video. . . . CAARRRRRRRRRAAAAASSSSSSHHHHHHHH !!!

I'D REALLY LIKE TO HAVE ONE THOUGH !!!

I think the concept and engineering from the folks at MIT is excellent. Kudos and hats off to them! Unfortunately as a General Aviation Private Pilot, and a former Air Traffic Controller, I know that General Aviation is in danger of losing its right to fly due to the number of incidents with General Aviation Aicraft. The Aircraft Owner and Pilots Association (AOPA) has many lobyists trying to keep legislation from making it impossible for many of us to be able to fly, using the number of incidents involving GenAvi as the firepower to legislate restrictions and fees to reduce or eliminate GenAvi traffic. Although the flying car concept is a great step to the evolution of tecnology and aviation, it can also expedite the demise of GenAvi if improperly introduced to the general public. I know there are certifications for Sport Pilots that "should" help in preventing incidents, but if Piloting is not taken seriously and practiced frequently with responsibility and continued training it can wreak havoc. I personally would like to see a vertical take off version of this, it would be more useful, but anytime flight occurs, it requires "much" responsibility for others that it affects. Also weather presents an extreme variable in a Pilot's ratings,knowlege, and aircraft capability as it pertains to safety. Especially to those on the ground.

Thats pretty neat,
Gee I wonder what happens when you bump your trash can when backing up. Do you have to get the FAA to clear you befor you can fly/ Or drive or maybe drive or Fly. Until you can get the vehicle to simply lift straight up and land straight down it is just another rich boy toy.... Oh wait, what about adding a few million of these in the air.
Good morninig ladys and gentelmen do to a 20 car/plane pile up traffic will be delayed. Our apologies and our hearts go out to the families 100% death rate.

But all in all the concept is fun. Good job MIT.
Have a great day.

Two things first off. This will never happen. Public flying vehicles for 3 reasons. 1st Air traffic congestion for commercial airliners. 2nd you cant stop in mid air and brake to avoid hitting another vehicle meaning people will crash mid air falling hundreds of feet to their death and 3rd unless given strict guidelines to whom may fly their will be too many casualties from this vehicle deeming it not safe. And the 2nd thing is think of it, do you really want planes crashing on your lawn or into your house with jet fuel burning, probably NOT. For every invention you must think of how a dumb person would use it and then make it safe for that person. which for this item I don't believe is possible.