flying cars

=aircraft

 

 

"Where's my flying car?"

 

 

The term "car" includes several attributes:

A) moves on the ground
B) pneumatic tires
C) self-propelled
D) crash safety measures
E) cargo capacity
F) passenger seats
G) drives on standard roads
H) fits in standard road lanes
I) fits in standard parking spaces
J) affordable for a typical family

 

The term "flying car" is ambiguous because different people include different sets of those attributes in it.

(D) adds weight, which is bad for aircraft.

Enough wingspan to carry 1 person is too wide for (H). Enough wingspan for (EF) is too wide for (G) too. Folding wings are generally considered necessary for a flying car, which adds cost and weight.

For good aerodynamics, the fuselage needs to be at least 4x as long as its width. That plus (I) means a maximum of 4.5 ft width, which makes (DEF) problematic.

 

 

In general, making these tradeoffs is worse than having separate aircraft and cars. But part of the meaning of "Where's my flying car?" is a more general complaint about the lack of affordably accessible new things enabled by technological progress, in the same vein of "Why aren't cars cheaper?" and "Why is housing more expensive?" - which is a much broader question.

 

 

If you're willing to sacrifice (DEFHI), you can get (GJ) with ultralight trikes.

A 1-person powered hang glider or ultralight trike can have a narrow enough wingspan and takeoff speed to take off from typical roads, using the entire width. It can also have a similar price to a new car. (The average new US car now costs $46k!) If production was greatly expanded, the production costs could be significantly reduced. One major issue is FAA certification of engines: certified engines that require leaded gasoline have been chosen over motorcycle and car engines with better performance, better reliability, and lower cost.

As for accidents, the accident rate for ultralights is similar to that of cars.

So, you could have a flying car. If you bought an ultralight trike and learned to fly it. If manufacturing of them was expanded. If roads and regulations were adapted to using them for landing and takeoff. If you were willing to sacrifice passenger seats and cargo capacity.