Are Small Planes the Future of Transportation?

Question

I have seen where NASA and the FAA has spent a lot of resources on developing a robotic small plane that can nearly fly itself with little intervention from the passengers, to make them more like cars, than what they are now which require special training and licenses to fly, even as a sport pilot.

I think it would be cool to have a plane in the garage as well, that I could jet off, especially here in Texas where going 50 miles is normal for just about doing anything.

How long do you think we are from really getting small planes to the average person, that could side as a car for getting around?

I have toyed around with some of the kit planes, and the Zenith STOL CH-701 and 801 would be great candidates for cheap, reliable aircraft that could be flown out of short run ways, a plane that I could take off in my own back yard at present. Runs on car gas, and wings can be made to fold. http://www.zenithair.com/stolch701/index1.html

Most of these smaller kit planes cost between $13-25k. Not very expensive...

stingjam, they all ready have rocket fired parachutes in most small production planes. They add $5k to the price tag, but a good investment.

The rockets deploy the chute so fast, that you can hit them 50 feet from the ground to start working immediately.

Besides, most planes crash on take off and landing. If you lose engines, you become a glider and causally coast to a landing. It's rare the wings fall off, or plane breaks up in mid-air.

Answer 1

i think that they are. in america there has already been a car made which can also fly. soon i think a lot of people will have these and then in about 20 years they will be the average car

Answer 2

Though I'll be unpopular for saying it, aircraft consume too much energy to be the future in a world that is feeling the squeeze on energy resources. That flying car they claim is about to become available is a complete joke, way more complex than an Osprey and all those engines howling just to keep it in the air. Plus they claim ordinary folks will be able to use them without a PPL. Right, sure they will. So long as they don't take off.

Then there's the cost, a $50-250k plane isn't going to be taking over from a $20k car in the near future.

Maybe if someone invents a battery with 10 times the energy density and they solve the fusion power plant issues we'll have cheap and transportable energy and we'll be able to fly everywhere. Or should I say be flown? I don't know about you but I don't think the majority of drivers would be safe to taxi, much less take off.

Answer 3

I dont expect this to happen in MY lifetime or in the next few generations. There would be too many chances for human error to be fatal.

In a car, you can hop out and wait on the mechanic. In a boat you can just float until help arrives. Even in a elevator, you can get stuck with little no directly lethal effect. (To protect passengers, modern elevators actually get 'stuck' when there is an error in mid-flight by default and will remain stuck until a mechanic arrives to unlock it!)

In an aircraft, however, human error in any part of design, building, maintenance, storage, or operation is very likely to cause death or injury. You can't pause in mid air.

In addition to the obvious technolgies that would be required to give flight to the 'masses', you will also need:

- Mid-air infinite-power-lofting safety devices (planes wont 'fall' any more)
- Cheap, portable intensive care (life support) units (if you cant breath or are injured it will keep you alive automatically till help arrives).
- Unbreakable restraint and anti-collision systems, (you wont hit other aircraft easily).
- and a bullet proof legal liability system, (you cant sue for human imperfections)