This morning I woke up at 6:49 AM, got on the train, read a newspaper, and broke my mind in excitement. It was a newspaper article about a commercial flying car, meaning a car that can fly and is actually produced to be used by people rather than test stuff or only for military/government/police/medical/firefighting use.
Though it's been in development for a while and news has been on it since 2007, this year it will actually be ready for launch and sale.
"If a Netherlands-based company called PAL-V Europe BV gets its way, flying cars may finally become a reality rather than the continued realm of dreamers.
The company's vehicle, called the PAL-V (Personal Air and Land Vehicle), is a three-wheeled machine that the company claims can be driven on public highways as well as through the air, with a range of some 340 miles. On the road, the PAL-V is said to offer a luxury-car smooth ride, while offering extreme maneuverability due to its motorcycle-esque tilting feature and three-wheeled platform. The manufacturer claims a 0-60 mph run in less than five seconds with an average fuel economy of approximately 70 miles per gallon on the ground.
To propel the PAL-V in the sky, a single rotor and propeller are used, similar to what would be found in a gyrocopter. The distance required for takeoff is 50 meters and landing space is even less, allowing the PAL-V to be operated in many environments. With a maximum airspeed of 120 mph and no traffic to contend with, commuting times with a PAL-V should be reduced considerably.
Powering the PAL-V is a Mazda-sourced, environmentally certified automotive engine capable of running on gasoline as well as bio-diesel or bio-ethanol. According to the company, Special Light Sport Aircraft certification, a Sports Aviation License, motorcycle license, and standard automobile driver's license are all required for operation of the vehicle in the U.S.
It all seems a little too good to be true at this stage, but we'd love to be able to check out a PAL-V in the flesh. Undoubtedly, personal air/land transport will be a viable prospect for the multitudes at some point down the line."
Article source: http://blogs.motortrend.com/6205371/car-news/when-cars-fly-pal-v-out-to-make-flying-vehicle-a-reality/index.html
Site: http://www.pal-v.com/
Topic: "It's 2010, WHERE'S MY FLYING CAR?!", Here it is!
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