Watch this all-electric ‘flying car’ take its first test flight in Germany

[Professor]

Watch this all-electric ‘flying car’ take its first test flight in Germany

http://www.theverge.com/2017/4/20/1...-first-flight-vtol-aviation-munich?yptr=yahoo

Lilium

Flying cars, that perennial dream for futurists that always seem to be at least five years away, may be a little closer to reality than we realize. A lot of prototypes have been showcased recently, and a lot of money is being tossed around. More people than ever seem to buy into the crazy notion that in the near future we’ll be buzzing between rooftops in private, autonomous drones. Today, Munich-based Lilium Aviation announced an important milestone: the first test flight of its all-electric, two-seater, vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) prototype.

 

[Wildman]

This reminds me of a toon I watched a few years back.

 

[Professor]

This is the 'flying car' backed by Google's co-founder



While we all wait for fully self-driving vehicles to make their debut in showrooms nationwide, another hot concept is preparing to take flight later this year: the flying car.

On Monday, Kitty Hawk — the startup earning an investment from Google co-founder Larry Page — unveiled the Kitty Hawk Flyer, an ultralight aircraft launching later this year. Pricing will be revealed closer to launch.

The Flyer basically looks like a giant drone, with the driver sitting on top. It falls under the ultralight category, according to Federal Aviation Administration regulations. However, owners won't need a pilot's license to operate one.

"We've all had dreams of flying effortlessly," said Page in a statement. "I'm excited that one day very soon I'll be able to climb onto my Kitty Hawk Flyer for a quick and easy personal flight. Someday soon we hope you will be able to do just that, thanks to this team's hard work."

Before you get too excited, although it's going to be available for purchase in the U.S., owners are limited to how they can use it. According to a FAQ page on the Kitty Hawk website, the Flyer is designed for "uncongested areas in the U.S." and must be flown over fresh water. So, no, you can't hop in this for a grocery store run or in hopes of dodging traffic caused by boring old grounded cars.

The prototype and eventual launch of the Kitty Hawk Flyer should pave the way for more vehicles, including a true flying car.

 

[Wildman]