http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/ Engadget Comments for NASA crowns winner in $250k "flying car" contest http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/
I'd love to see it happen but for god's sakes, we can't even keep Jets from being hijacked. The obvious evolution of terrorism would see these flying cars being used as SUICIDE MISSILES laden with explosives.


I am suprised they can get 50 MPG out of an airplane and not my Chrysler 300C. :(]]>Aug 12th 2007 11:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/
That isn't really the concern with these cars. Small aircraft operators can easily fly into buildings; but they wouldn't really do any big damage. They may kill one or two people, but the same can easily be accomplished by running out onto a street with a knife and stabbing a few people. Should we ban knives? Or maybe just ban running? ;-)

The real concern here are the people themselves. Most people in the US don't know how to drive, and are completely incapable of figuring out how to, so I really don't want to be in the air with these same people.

Until personal transportation is conducted via centralized computer (such as in I, Robot), high-speed personal transportation will never be possible.]]>Aug 12th 2007 11:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/Aug 13th 2007 1:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/Aug 13th 2007 4:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/
And apparently they've cowed the whole lot of us.

I agree, the Americans are gone as a world force. Not because of the terrorists, but because the Americans have reacted to the terrorists with genuine terror. They now think like a bunch of wussies and have stopped doing cool things if they're afraid one or two people will get killed.

If this is what happened to Brave America, the terrorists have indeed won.

]]>Aug 13th 2007 8:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/Aug 13th 2007 9:43AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/Aug 13th 2007 9:59AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/Aug 13th 2007 8:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/
I'm sure you could put more missiles on this thing than a Predator drone. Devote the passenger space to electronics, cameras and extra fuel.]]>Aug 12th 2007 11:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/Aug 13th 2007 4:26AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/Aug 13th 2007 4:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/
That is more than enough to warrant fear of an airborne America.

If an Islamic terrorist Attack can inspire White American teens to copycat mass murder what isn't possible?

And with enough explosives and airplane does become a missile.]]>Aug 13th 2007 12:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/The Rotax 912, which powers the stock Pipistrel virus, might give around 3 gph but won't do 150 mph. Wonder what the modders used to achieve that speed.]]>Aug 12th 2007 11:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/]]>Aug 13th 2007 12:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/
To sum his up, IT WAS A FLUKE. NOBODY HAS DONE THAT SINCE. In other words, you are altogether too paranoid. Chancs are you will never be harmed by a terrorists. You probably won't ever even see one unless you go out of your way to fid one.]]>Aug 13th 2007 8:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/Aug 13th 2007 12:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/Aug 13th 2007 12:28AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/Aug 13th 2007 2:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/
I think they are rewarding current forward-thinking designs. While they aren't flying cars per se, they are interesting designs.

And what the previous poster said...there will never be flying cars. Most people can't parallel park. Imagine them landing in bad weather.]]>Aug 13th 2007 12:35AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/Aug 13th 2007 3:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/
I'm wrapping up three months of serving on a grand jury. On average, we have 15 cases that we sit through for people that were driving with license revoked. Most of those cases are after the people have a DUI. And that's just the people who get caught. This is a rather unpopulated county that the jury serves, and it take me a half hour to get to jury duty, most of which I see nothing but corn fields. Do you really want to give drunks an opportunity to fly?

What about all those people who do everything but drive while they're behind the wheel? How many of you communte and don't see at least five people yelling at their cell phones, eating, applying make-up? And you think things are going to be better when they're in the air? Not only will the people flying have to watch out for these people, but everyone on the ground will have to watch out for fall aircrafts. Then there are also the people who wouldn't be ideal pilots. You'll have the risk takes that will like "barn-storming" around cities, people that try to ascend to fast that stall they craft, and all those people who have mechanical problems. There'll be people who run out of fuel, engine problem, along with people who just don't service their aircraft. We all know who those people will be; they'll be the same ones who don't take care of their cars.

This will not be progress. This will be state-approved genecied to eliminated all the idiots in the country. After most of the idiots are dead then you'll might be able to call it progress if there are enough people around to really be able to call it that.]]>Aug 13th 2007 3:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/Aug 13th 2007 3:41AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/
http://www.ehow.com/how_2464_private-pilots-license.html

It doesn't sound like I would have to do too much more than what I had to do to get my driver's license (steps 4 and 8 are really the only things extra that isn't required for a driver's license). It costs quite a bit more, but it's probably worth it to zip around the world on your own.]]>Aug 13th 2007 3:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/Aug 13th 2007 3:47AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/Aug 13th 2007 1:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/Aug 13th 2007 7:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/
Now. When will they start up anti-gravity racing machines and start up the F-0 Grand Prix? :) Sure, they might need Nintendo's, the EAD Team's, and Shigeru Miyamoto's permission to be able to CALL it that, but hey — F-Zero's one of the best racing games that I've ever played, so… I think it'd be worth it. :)

And they could have people in flying cars filming the race from different angles, hundreds of feet in the air! :D Or was it thousands? I don't remember.

Also, related to this article:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBRHetKH4MQ]]>Aug 13th 2007 4:06AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/Aug 13th 2007 4:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/
No wait !

Ahh...this is why they won...
[www.pipistrel.si]

The NASA Government wonks wanted a Euro vacation to "Certify" the winner.

Isn't anyone else concerned that:
1. A USA Centennial Challenge is open to all countries.
2. Our Tax $ don't go to supporting "Made in USA" entries.
3. $150,000USD goes to Slovenia ?
4. Slovenia is now the aircraft design capital of the world ?

Write your Congressman...
When they get back from Ajdovscina...]]>Aug 13th 2007 8:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/Aug 13th 2007 6:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.moller.com/ I think that qualifies.]]>Aug 13th 2007 1:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/Tom - TRCoach (http://trcoach.com )]]>Aug 14th 2007 6:00AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/
And here it is, the real picture]]>Aug 13th 2007 6:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/nasa-crowns-winner-in-250k-flying-car-contest/
"Wheeeeeeee!!! Flying cars!!!" It's nothing short of amusing as well as annoying listening to naive people wax quixotic about one day owning and operating flying cars.

There's never gonna be mass adoption of this for civilians. Nope. Not gonna happen. Ever. Military only.]]>Aug 14th 2007 11:39PM