When are we going to finally have flying cars...come on, it's already 2006 and they promised flying cars by 2K

Question

Well...let me explain further. There is a reason why I posted this question under "Physics". This is what I am after, the physics or counter-acting the earth's gravitational pull. Some kind of engine or field generator that would free the vessel (car) from being pulled back down to the ground. Hey, just like the Stars wars rides...aren't those just about the coolest freaking things. Or the hover board in Back to the Future. Can you imagine the reduction in fuel expenditure. Your only opposing force would be the drag coefficient from the earth atmosphere (wind) and that is it. You are probably thinking how to stop and how to do it in a hurry (ie. slam on the brakes) well, I don't know yet, that is why I am asking this question. I don't want propellers or any other wind-repelling crap. I am sick of waisting trillions and zillions of gallons of fuel to move crap around. Look at the Discovery today, that is soooo gross. Look at all the fuel that it takes to break the free from the g-pull..

Answer 1

Only when the corporate giants find a way to capitalize on it.The technology has existed for years.Its the same reason we dont use solar or wind power.No money in it for the fat cats.

Answer 2

I don't know who promised you flying cars by 2000, but obviously he blew it. Since we can't turn off gravity, the machine will have to utilize aerodynamic lift -- i.e, it has to be basically an airplane. But the means of propelling an airplane has nothing much in common with the means of propelling a car (aside from having an engine), and if your vehicle has to have both, it is going to be heavy. And, if you are building airplanes, that is a Bad Thing. Furthermore, if you are building a car, you don't want airfoils sticking out to whack passers-by, so most dual-use vehicles (and a few experimental ones have been built) detach the wings when using the vehicle on the ground, which is a nuisance in that you can get airborne only from the place where you landed.
A man named Moller has been working for decades on an air-car which is basically an airplane -- literature I have seen does not indicate that it is suitable for use on the ground. (Of course, if it could take off from a small enough space -- and Moller is trying to do this -- you don't need to use it on the ground.) He has been making promises for a long time but has not yet delivered much. I wish him well.
It is clear that traffic control will be a problem if this idea ever gets off the ground. (Sorry -- I couldn't resist.) With computers and GPS navigation, this is a solvable problem. However, people will need to learn to operate these things, and that means getting a pilot's license. And for these vehicles to be really useful, the pilot will need an instrument rating. These can be obtained but they are not trivial.

Answer 3

Back when the automobile first came out it was extremely unsafe. But people were willing to take that risk in the name of technology. NOw with the litigation system the way it is, I doubt we can make that jump to the flying car. Oh we have the technology, but the development would be far too dangerous and costly. Someone would probably get sued.

Answer 4

Unfortunately, there is no way to "block" a gravitational field. Those skateboards from Back to the Future 2 are merely a fantasy.

Who promised you flying cars by 2000? I have a bridge in Brooklyn I would like to sell you...

Answer 5

We may never be able have flying cars.

It's not a matter of safety, but a matter of technology and cost efficiency.

That and a flying car would most likely not run on gasoline as the amount of gas it would require to actually life a car of the ground would be a large amount and be extremely expensive.

Since it would not run on gasoline, the oil companies would try their best to keep any "flying cars" off the market.

Welcome to corporate America!

Answer 6

I hope we don't have flying cars until robotics is so good that cars can fly themselves much better than we can drive them. I've been driving for 41 years and had no injury accidents. I flew planes with a private pilot's licence for two years and had several near death experiences. Only a few well-trained people are safe pilots.

Answer 7

It depends on the growing technology , as you may know we still have so many problems with wings-free cars , the most important one is pollution.

It wont be an easy task because we need to arrange some car air lines ant high ways !

Answer 8

I love the idea, but with the way people drive today, can you imagine the carnage that would befall us it all of a sudden everybody had to think and drive in 3 dimensions?

Answer 9

there is a flying car in heavy development, it's called flycar, and it seems to be pretty expensive, also, flying cars are highly unuseful due to the high gasoline prices, that's pretty much why the cars have been delayed...

Answer 10

if they are this dangerous on the ground i dont think every shmoe should be flying.