AirCar, a dual-mode car-aircraft vehicle moved closer to production this week, fulfilling a key development milestone in a 35-minute flight from the internat...
They have flying prototypes and some key FAA approvals already.
Initial planned use is “air taxis” ala uber between skyscrapers, which tracks because uber was a big investor. Seems like a viable way to give more people a more affordable"helicopter" style around major urban areas at least.
How is either a better or more affordable option than a cheap helicopter? Air taxis using helicopter have existed for decades and fly around urban areas every single day.
Will people still need a pilot’s license and all of the associated time + training that requires? Because they will surely also need to have a driver’s license and insurance and everything else required of owning a car!
I do not understand the appeal at all unless it’s just a refusal to give up on a very specific childhood nostalgia.
The idea is that this will be launching from landing pads in the city and will be publically accessable via a small hanger area. The trips are supposed to be mostly automated, with a human pilot for safety. The 6 props allow a lot more control in a simplier manner than a traditional helicopter.
It is supposed to be a lot cheaper, safer, and more accessible than helicopters, along with being way more of them available. Something akin to what dirigibles tried to do in the 1930s with building launchpads, but way more reliable and efficient.
The appeal is another type of transit, for now. The design as I understand it can also convert to “airplane” mode and fly for an hour or so at 200mph on battery power. I expect that if the air taxi service is safe and steady enough, these will be also be available for 200 mile flights without the irritation of standard air travel. Hell, they may sell them to people directly at some point.
I linked their website above if you want to do a deep dive.
Well, those are coming too.
They have flying prototypes and some key FAA approvals already.
Initial planned use is “air taxis” ala uber between skyscrapers, which tracks because uber was a big investor. Seems like a viable way to give more people a more affordable"helicopter" style around major urban areas at least.
How is either a better or more affordable option than a cheap helicopter? Air taxis using helicopter have existed for decades and fly around urban areas every single day.
Will people still need a pilot’s license and all of the associated time + training that requires? Because they will surely also need to have a driver’s license and insurance and everything else required of owning a car!
I do not understand the appeal at all unless it’s just a refusal to give up on a very specific childhood nostalgia.
The idea is that this will be launching from landing pads in the city and will be publically accessable via a small hanger area. The trips are supposed to be mostly automated, with a human pilot for safety. The 6 props allow a lot more control in a simplier manner than a traditional helicopter.
It is supposed to be a lot cheaper, safer, and more accessible than helicopters, along with being way more of them available. Something akin to what dirigibles tried to do in the 1930s with building launchpads, but way more reliable and efficient.
The appeal is another type of transit, for now. The design as I understand it can also convert to “airplane” mode and fly for an hour or so at 200mph on battery power. I expect that if the air taxi service is safe and steady enough, these will be also be available for 200 mile flights without the irritation of standard air travel. Hell, they may sell them to people directly at some point.
I linked their website above if you want to do a deep dive.
So helicopters with extra steps. Got it.
Not really, but assume what you like.