The historians once pontificated that we'd all be cruising about in flying cars right around the year 2000, and while that whole Y2K fiasco threw us a tad behind schedule, it looks like the future may actually still be upon us. Parajet, the same company responsible for that downright unnerving
personal flying machine we peeked back in '05, has now placed its long-awaited SkyCar up for pre-order. Said vehicle has evolved quite dramatically over the years, but now that dollars (er, pounds) are being dropped on it, we have to assume that the design is near final. The vehicle is completely street legal and can accelerate to 62mph in just 4.2 seconds, thus making it the world's first "usable, road-legal flying car." If you're champing at the bit to be the first on your block with one, you can drop £10,000 ($16,381) now and pay the remaining £50,000 ($81,905) just before it ships in "late 2010." Of course, we're not making any promises about it
actually shipping, but that's a risk you'll have to take.
[Via
AutoblogGreen]
posted July 19th 2009 2:49PM
Lots-a-people-gonna-die?
A lot. But not enough. :D
Screw the flying part, I just want to DRIVE it. It'd probably cost a lot less as just a car, too!
... still want that S2000-powered Caterham...
I want a para-motorcycle
Has "FAIL" and "VAPOR WARE" written all over it.
http://www.instablogsimages.com/images/2009/01/08/ktm-ax-offroad-concept_Obwgn_5965.jpg
maybe if it had a flux capacitor.
If you took the fan off (i know it wouldn't fly) it would be sexy as hell.
For barely higher price ($140 vs $100) than this you can get the ICON A5 and have a truly 'flyable' amphibious vehicle. I certainly wouldn't call this thing a flying car if it cannot autoretract that sail... when it can do that you could take off, fly, land, and drive, making it a flying car.
Hmm, a choice between a flying dune buggy, and a flying jetski.
Do they come with a lot in a trailer park and nascar tickets?
Jon gets a +1!
nahh... lordmorgul gets my vote.
I guess it's good for flying off cliff edges.
We must never have flying cars on a mass market level. People already can't drive in two dimensions; imagine the chaos if we toss them into the third. Just what I need: soccer moms gabbing brainlessly away on their cell phones while driving, buzzing me from below and above as well as from the sides.
I suppose we would have to give a new meaning to air brakes in the third dimension...
That is indeed a terrible vision.
D-':
SHRIMP ON THE BARBIE!
Whoa! Perfect bank robbery getaway car!!
Honestly, I don't think the idea is ever going to get off the ground.
You made me cry on the inside :(
Ill take one
Oh yea. Lets go into flight mode. All I need is a group of friends to help with the sail. Oh wait, and a crapload of open airspace...
Nope. Where the heck is that flying car from Popular Science magazine back in the 90s that said it was going to be ready for production in a couple of years. Vertical takeoff and landing and all?
Bah humbug.
The skycar? http://www.moller.com/skycar
I have seen the Icon A5 and it's sweet.
Airspeed for this will likely be that of a paraglider ~40-60mph. Unlike other aero-cars, this looks like something cool to drive.
That thing looks awesome. I'd buy one just to drive it around...
Was excited as I thought it was only 16K...then saw that was just the deposit. I'd rather pick up an autogyro for 15K new...this is a non-starter except for those with more money than brains...possibly they could market it to lotto winners.
You can almost guarantee you’ll see this on the next bond movie
This is a nice concept... place a "parachute" on a car, then add a device that will allow it to sail or glide.. then change the name to ParaJet...then you have whole new vehicle.. or not!! :)
Flying cars still way too long for us to use.. :)
Hopefully someone will invent the a flying boat!!
Meh. I'd rather have an Ariel Atom.
Anyone else keep reading "parakeet"?
EPIC FAIL!
Video preeez.
"The historians once pontificated that we'd all be cruising about in flying cars right around the year 2000…"
I think you mean '2015', no?
Finally, I can get my Jetson's on. I just hope the kiddos don't fly out.
I wonder what they used to mutate it? There had better not have been any intelligence involved - that's counter establishment.
Is this water proof?
Oh god, my old neighbor built somthing like this out of a swamp boat, and a go cart... NOT SAFE.
I'd like to have this without the parachute... that's a mean and sexy looking little car!
Its just like buzz lightyear It just falls with style
i'd take marty mcfly's hoverboard over this anyday.
so no mirrors, headlights, taillights, turn signals, approved restraint system... Yea.. Street legal on a dirt road in tehran maybe
Looks like something that will appear in the next Batman....the Tumbler II....or the Bat Buggy....
"Does it come in black?"
"Fly Away Home"?
Thank you thank you thank you ... for correctly using "champing at the bit".
Coming to a theater soon.
That's not flying, it's falling with style.
As stupid as it looks, and as unsafe as it most likely could be, this strikes all the right cords in me. If I was a millionaire, I'd get one of these in a heartbeat.
I've heard of people getting burned by motorcycle exhaust pipes when they have walked behind one...but I think being sliced into a million pieces or loosing a few limbs when walking behind one of these takes it to a whole new level.
Also, the other day a bird bounced harmlessly off my windscreen...I'm just thankful it didn't get sucked into my turbine into a cloud of messy feathers.
Seriously...no one else thinking "spinning blade + stupid people (and birds) = very (very) bad"?