5 ms·

If by "flying car" Larry really means "Toyota Camry that can fly with middle class people inside" then that's obviously preposterous to anyone with the slightes

by avn2109 10y ago

If by "flying car" Larry really means "Toyota Camry that can fly with middle class people inside" then that's obviously preposterous to anyone with the slightest shred of general aviation experience. If he means "VTOL Cessna with really good avionics" it's still a tall order but perhaps within the realm of "eventually possible given great determination and unlimited money" instead of "laugh him out of town."

elmar 10y ago
off course it will be possible when batteries tripple the density without increasing weight. You will get a 25 minute around 30 miles ride with 20 minute reserve
- lisper 10y ago
  And without being a fire hazard.
  - elmar 10y ago
    with current battery technology this is controlled but with new tech chemistry this could become a problem.
- toomuchtodo 10y ago
  Biofuels. Otherwise, you're waiting another 20 years.
  - elmar 10y ago
    to do a small combustion engine VTOL vehicle its even harder I have only seen it work with several two stroke engines. Another optin is turbine like the AirMule, but will be hard to use it for civilian operations the hourly cost is brutal and noise and heat is really annoying for nearby people and even passengers. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_Aeronautics_AirMule https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_Aeronautics_AirMule
    - elmar 10y ago
      the two stroke VTOL is homebuilt http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2123200/The-ultimate-man-cave-Stunning-aircraft-hangar-middle-Utah-desert-plane-designer-lives-plane--guns.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2123200/The-ultimate...
elmar 10y ago
the cost it's also another big barrier I don't see it hitting the market at less than $250k. As a proxy you have Icon A5 it was target at a price point of $130k in 2008 currently it's priced around $240k and only a handful have been delivered. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICON_A5 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICON_A5

by avn2109 10y ago

elmar 10y ago

off course it will be possible when batteries tripple the density without increasing weight. You will get a 25 minute around 30 miles ride with 20 minute reserve

lisper 10y ago
And without being a fire hazard.
- elmar 10y ago
  with current battery technology this is controlled but with new tech chemistry this could become a problem.
toomuchtodo 10y ago
Biofuels. Otherwise, you're waiting another 20 years.
- elmar 10y ago
  to do a small combustion engine VTOL vehicle its even harder I have only seen it work with several two stroke engines. Another optin is turbine like the AirMule, but will be hard to use it for civilian operations the hourly cost is brutal and noise and heat is really annoying for nearby people and even passengers. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_Aeronautics_AirMule https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_Aeronautics_AirMule
  - elmar 10y ago
    the two stroke VTOL is homebuilt http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2123200/The-ultimate-man-cave-Stunning-aircraft-hangar-middle-Utah-desert-plane-designer-lives-plane--guns.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2123200/The-ultimate...

elmar 10y ago

the cost it's also another big barrier I don't see it hitting the market at less than $250k. As a proxy you have Icon A5 it was target at a price point of $130k in 2008 currently it's priced around $240k and only a handful have been delivered. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICON_A5 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICON_A5