 The Waterman Aerobile at the Smithsonian. A flying car or roadable aircraft is an automobile that can legally travel on roads and can take off, fly, and land as an aircraft. In practice, the vehicle usually has to be converted from a standard aeroplane to an aeroplane with sufficient roadworthiness. The Flying Car is a 2002 seven-minute short film written and directed by Kevin Smith. ...
Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2016x1512, 1367 KB) Waterman Aerobile #6. ...
Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2016x1512, 1367 KB) Waterman Aerobile #6. ...
“Car†and “Cars†redirect here. ...
Flying machine redirects here. ...
In science fiction, the vision of a flying car is usually a practical aircraft that the average person can fly directly from any point to another (e.g. from home to work or to the supermarket) without the requirement for roads, runways or other special prepared operating areas. In addition, the science-fiction version of the flying car typically resembles a conventional car with no visible means of propulsion, rather than an aeroplane. For more information on the science-fiction stereotype, see hovercar. Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ...
A hovercar is a transport vehicle appearing in works of science fiction. ...
Early experiments Glenn Curtiss, the Wrights' chief rival, was the first to design a flying car. The first flying car to actually fly was built by Waldo Waterman. Waterman became associated with Curtiss while Curtiss was pioneering naval aviation at North Island on San Diego Bay in the 1910s. However, it wasn't until March 21, 1937 that Waterman's Aerobile first took to the air. The Aerobile was a development of Waterman's tailless aircraft, the Whatsit. It had a wingspan of 38 feet (11 m) and a length of 20 feet 6 inches (6.25 m). On the ground and in the air it was powered by a Studebaker engine. It could fly at 112 MPH (180 km/h) and drive at 56 MPH (90 km/h). Glenn H. Curtiss at the Grande Semaine dAviation in France in 1909 Glenn Hammond Curtiss (May 21, 1878 – July 23, 1930) was an aviation pioneer and founder of the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company, now part of Curtiss-Wright Corporation. ...
The Wright brothers, Orville (August 19, 1871–January 30, 1948) and Wilbur (April 16, 1867–May 30, 1912), were two Americans generally credited with building the worlds first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and heavier-than-air human flight on December 17, 1903. ...
Waldo Dean Waterman (June 16, 1894 - December 8, 1976) was an inventor and aviation pioneer from San Diego, California. ...
San Diego Bay and Coronado Bridge at night San Diego Bay is a natural harbor adjacent to San Diego, California. ...
// The 1910s represent the culmination of European militarism which had its beginnings during the second half of the 19th Century. ...
is the 80th day of the year (81st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...
Year 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...
Whatsit was an swept-wing tail-less, airplane designed by Waldo Waterman between 1911 (when he first got the idea) and 1932 (when the prototype was finally in testing phase). ...
Studebaker Corporation, or simply Studebaker, was a United States wagon and automobile manufacturer based in South Bend, Indiana. ...
In 1926, Henry Ford displayed an experimental single-seat aeroplane that he called the "sky flivver". The project was abandoned two years later when a test flight crashed, killing the pilot.[1] Henry Ford (1919) Henry Ford (July 30, 1863 – April 7, 1947) was the founder of the Ford Motor Company and father of modern assembly lines used in mass production. ...
Post-war development In the 1950s, the western world was recovering from World War II and everything seemed possible. The flying car was a vision of transportation in the 21st century, and a common feature of science fiction futures. Image File history File links Flying_car,_cover_of_Popular_Mechanics,_Feb_1951. ...
Image File history File links Flying_car,_cover_of_Popular_Mechanics,_Feb_1951. ...
The adolescent Internet. ...
the first thing that was invented was the automatic DILDO. Education grew explosively because of a very strong demand for high school and college education. ...
Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki TÅjÅ Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...
Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ...
Several designs (such as the Convair flying car and Molt Taylor's Aircar) have flown, none have enjoyed commercial success and those that have flown are not widely known about by the general public. One notable design, Henry Smolinski's Mizar, made by mating the rear end of a Cessna Skymaster with a Ford Pinto, disintegrated during test flights, killing Smolinski and the pilot. The AVE Mizar (frequently misspelled Mitzar, but named after the star Mizar) was a flying car built between 1971 and 1973 by Advanced Vehicle Engineers (AVE) of Oxnard, California. ...
A Cessna 337 Super Skymaster The Cessna Skymaster is a twin-engine civil utility aircraft built in a push-pull configuration. ...
The Ford Pinto was an American subcompact car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company, first introduced in 1971, and built through the 1980 model year. ...
In the 1950s, Ford Motor Company performed a serious feasibility study for a flying car product. They concluded that such a product was technically feasible, economically manufacturable, and had significant realistic markets. The markets explored included ambulance services, police and emergency services, military uses, and initially, luxury transportation. Some of these markets are now served by light helicopters. However, the flying car explored by Ford would be at least fiftyfold less expensive. “Ford†redirects here. ...
For other uses, see Helicopter (disambiguation). ...
When Ford approached the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) about regulatory issues, the critical problem was that the (then) known forms of air traffic control were inadequate for the volume of traffic Ford proposed. At the time, air traffic control consisted of flight numbers, altitudes and headings written on little slips of paper and placed in a case. Quite possibly computerized traffic control, or some form of directional allocation by altitude could resolve the problems. Other problems would also need to be resolved in some ways, however, including intoxicated drivers or motorists that drive without a license. “FAA†redirects here. ...
Historic flying cars and roadable aircraft
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1937: Events March March 5 - Imperial Airways opens a new flying boat base at Hythe, Hampshire. ...
The Fulton FA-2 Airphibian was an American automobile/airplane manufactured in 1946. ...
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1946: // Events January January 1 - a British South American Airways Avro Lancastrian becomes the first commercial flight to depart Heathrow Airport January 10 - a Sikorsky R5 sets an unofficial helicopter altitude record of 6,400 m (21,000 ft) at Stratford...
The Aerocar Aerocar was a US roadable aircraft, designed and built by Moulton Taylor in 1949. ...
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1949: Events Aerolíneas Argentinas established. ...
The Aerauto PL.5C was a roadable aircraft developed in Italy in the early 1950s. ...
The AVE Mizar (frequently misspelled Mitzar, but named after the star Mizar) was a flying car built between 1971 and 1973 by Advanced Vehicle Engineers (AVE) of Oxnard, California. ...
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1973: Events Icelandair established. ...
A Cessna 337 Super Skymaster The Cessna Skymaster is a twin-engine civil utility aircraft built in a push-pull configuration. ...
The Ford Pinto was an American subcompact car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company, first introduced in 1971, and built through the 1980 model year. ...
Modern development Today, there is an active movement in the search for a practical flying car. Several conventions are held yearly to discuss and review current flying car projects. Two notable events are the Flying Car forum held at the world-famous EAA Airventure at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) conventions held at various cities. Aerobatic team performs at EAA AirVenture The Oshkosh Airshow (officially EAA AirVenture Oshkosh) is an annual gathering of aviation enthusiasts held each summer at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. ...
Location of Oshkosh, Wisconsin City hall Downtown Oshkosh at U.S. Route 45 Oshkosh Public Museum Mouth of the Fox River into Lake Winnebago. ...
SAE International (SAE) is a professional organization for mobility engineering professionals in aerospace, automotive and the commercial vehicle industries. ...
Flying cars can fall into one of two styles; integrated (all the pieces can be carried in the vehicle), or modular (the pieces to fly are left at the airport when the vehicle is driven).
Current development examples
An artist's impression of a flying car, in the March 2006 issue of Popular Science A number of companies are developing vehicles. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1728x2304, 883 KB) Summary Cover of Popular Science Magazine, March 2006 Licensing This image is of a magazine cover, and the copyright for it is most likely owned by either the publisher of the magazine or the individual contributors who worked...
Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1728x2304, 883 KB) Summary Cover of Popular Science Magazine, March 2006 Licensing This image is of a magazine cover, and the copyright for it is most likely owned by either the publisher of the magazine or the individual contributors who worked...
This article is not about the magazine, Popular Science Popular science is interpretation of science intended for a general audience, rather than for other scientists or students. ...
- StrongMobile's Magic Dragon Aircar[2] has been developed by retired Air Force pilot-engineer Rich Strong over a 50-year period. The design uses an automobile-type lifting body fuselage and automotive suspension. Flight propulsion uses a front-mounted ducted fan with side outlets. Automatic conversion uses a combination of folding and swinging to stow the wings into the body. The current design envisions a core market of frequent regional business travellers whose time savings make using the StrongMobile virtually revenue neutral.
- LaBiche Aerospace's FSC-1[3] is a developmental prototype Flying Car and is an example of a practical flying car capable of utilizing today's automotive and aviation infrastructure to provide true "door-to-door" travel. The vehicle can be parked in any garage or parking space available for cars. The FSC-1 is the first known vehicle capable of automatic conversion from aircraft to car at the touch of a button. LaBiche has flown a 1/10th scale model, tested a ¼-scale model and is currently finishing the FSC-1 prototype for road and air testing, as of 2006. Currently, the FSC-1 requires a pilot and driver's license to operate. However, upon approval from the FAA, development is underway for utilizing a new satellite-navigation "hands free" flight system to travel from airport to airport that will eliminate the need for a pilot's license. Numerous safety systems and fail safes are also employed on the FSC-1, such as a recovery parachute.
- The Haynes Aero Skyblazer[4] is a development stage vehicle that uses a single turbofan engine to provide thrust in the air and to generate electricity to power electric motors for ground travel. In "car mode", a patented mechanism allows the wings to fold into the body of the vehicle, which is designed fit into a single car garage and regular parking space. In "aircraft mode" the vehicle will have STOL capabilities and be able to use almost any public use airfield. It is expected to have a top speed of 400 mph and a range of 830 miles. The skyblazer team has completed wind tunnel, stability and control testing and flown a 1/6th scale model.
- The Moller Skycar M400[5] is a prototype personal VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) aircraft that some refer to as a flying car, although it cannot be driven as an automobile. However, the Skycar is a good demonstration of the technological barriers to developing the VTOL flying car. Moller International continues to develop the Skycar M400, which is powered by four pairs of in-tandem Wankel rotary engines, and is approaching the problems of satellite-navigation, incorporated in the proposed Small Aircraft Transportation System. Moller also advises that, currently, the Skycar would only be allowed to fly from airports & heliports. Possible future ' vertiports ' might include FAA-specified fields, parking lot areas & private properties, depending on space & noise parameters.
- Urban Aeronautics' X-Hawk[6] is a VTOL aircraft which operates much like a tandem rotor helicopter, however it doesn't have the exposed rotors which make helicopters dangerous for personal use. This is accomplished by containing the rotors in large 'ducts' which make up most of the body of the craft; the requisite decrease in rotor size also decreases fuel efficiency. The X-Hawk is being developed by Urban Aeronautics, and is being promoted for rescue and utility functions. It is expected to be available for about $3 million around 2010.
- Terrafugia, a private company, is developing the Transition,[7] a roadable aircraft that the company describes as a "Personal Air Vehicle". The aircraft is designed to change configurations, enabling it to operate as a traditional road vehicle and as a general aviation aeroplane. The Transition "Personal Air Vehicle" is expected to be released in late 2009 with an operational prototype expected in 2008. The estimated purchase price is $148,000. Owners will drive the car from their garage to an airport where they will then be able to fly within a range of 100 to 500 miles. It will carry two people plus luggage and will operate on a single tank of premium unleaded gas.
Macro Industries Skyrider The Flying Sports Car -1 FSC-1, developed & marketed by LaBiche Aerospace under the name FSC-1, is a 4 seat, single engine, integrated style flying car. ...
The Haynes Aero Skyblazer is a project under development which proposes a Roadable Aircraft, more commonly known as a Flying Car. ...
A Zenair CH701 STOL light aircraft Polish STOL light aircraft PZL-104M Wilga of Polish Border Guard at Radom Air Show in 2005. ...
A poster of the skycar Moller Skycar M400 Skycar M400 hover test. ...
For other uses, see Prototype (disambiguation). ...
The Hawker Harrier, one of the famous examples of a plane with VTOL capability. ...
Flying machine redirects here. ...
Wankel Engine in Deutsches Museum The Wankel engine is a type of internal combustion engine, invented by Felix Wankel, which uses a rotary piston instead of reciprocating pistons. ...
An artists rendition of the X-Hawk. ...
The Hawker Harrier, one of the famous examples of a plane with VTOL capability. ...
Flying machine redirects here. ...
Tandem rotor helicopters have two large horizontal rotor assemblies instead of one main assembly and a smaller tail rotor. ...
For other uses, see Helicopter (disambiguation). ...
Terrafugia is a private company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts that is developing The Transition, a roadable aircraft that the company describes as a Personal Air Vehicle. The aircraft is designed to change configurations, enabling it to operate as a traditional road vehicle and as a general aviation airplane. ...
Personal Air Vehicle or PAV is a term widely adopted by the U.S. aviation community and is used to describe a class of light general aviation aircraft which meet a specialized set of design and performance goals. ...
Macro industries has a prototype of a flying car simialar to the Moller Skycar except lighter more information can be viewed on the link posted below
- PAL-V Europe BV: the PAL-V ONE[8] is a hybrid of a gyrocopter with a car.
http://www.macroindustries.com/website/files/skyrider/_1024/index_main.htm
In popular culture - For examples of flying cars in science fiction, see Hovercar.
Image File history File links Broom_icon. ...
A hovercar is a transport vehicle appearing in works of science fiction. ...
The Bob Cummings Show was an American television sitcom which was produced from 1955 to 1959. ...
The Aero Car, model N102D Aerocar Internationals Aerocar (often called the Taylor Aerocar) was an American roadable aircraft, designed and built by Moulton Taylor in 1949. ...
The New Bob Cummings Show was a television situation comedy which was broadcast by CBS during the 1961-62 television season. ...
007 redirects here. ...
The Man with the Golden Gun is the ninth film in the James Bond series and the second to star Roger Moore as MI6 agent James Bond. ...
1974 Matador rebuilt as a replica of a Police Car from The Dukes of Hazzard Second generation 1975 Matador base model sedan The AMC Matador was an intermediate car built and sold by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) from 1971 to 1978. ...
This article is about the 1982 film. ...
For the silent film actor, see Harrison Ford (silent film actor). ...
Berlins Sony Center reflects the global reach of a Japanese corporation. ...
Listen to this article (3 parts) (info) Part 1 • Part 2 • Part 3 This audio file was created from an article revision dated 2006-01-29, and may not reflect subsequent edits to the article. ...
is the 364th day of the year (365th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...
Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ...
An artists rendering of a lunar base. ...
To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ...
For the game, see Jetpack (computer game). ...
// Rayguns are a type of directed-energy weapon. ...
In science fiction, floating cities are settlements that use buoyancy to remain in the atmosphere of a planet. ...
For other uses, see IBM (disambiguation) and Big Blue. ...
Brooks as Sisko Avery Franklin Brooks (born October 2, 1948 in Evansville, Indiana) is an American actor. ...
Space station Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (ST:DS9 or STDS9 or DS9 for short) is a science fiction television series produced by Paramount and set in the Star Trek universe. ...
The Flying Car is a 2002 seven-minute short film written and directed by Kevin Smith. ...
Short subject is an American film industry term that historically has referred to any film in the format of two reels, or approximately 20 minutes running time, or less. ...
For other persons named Kevin Smith, see Kevin Smith (disambiguation). ...
May 26, 2006 opening monologue of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno The Tonight Show with Jay Leno is the full name of NBCs The Tonight Show hosted by Jay Leno, debuting on May 25, 1992. ...
Dante Hicks (played by Brian OHalloran) in the movie Dante Hicks (Born 1972) is a fictional character and one of the protagonists in Kevin Smiths View Askewniverse, played by Brian OHalloran. ...
Dante Hicks (left) and Randal (right) Randal Graves (b. ...
Top Gear is a BAFTA[1], Multi-NTA and Emmy Award-winning BBC television series about motor vehicles, mainly cars. ...
Richard Mark Hammond (born December 19, 1969 in Birmingham), nicknamed Hamster, is an English television and radio presenter best known for co-presenting the television programme Top Gear along with James May and Jeremy Clarkson from 2002 onwards, and co-hosting the live annual motoring show, MPH, in Earls Court...
For the British body snatcher, James May, see London Burkers. ...
1974 Reliant Robin Reliant Robins are also raced by enthusiasts The Reliant Robin (often incorrectly referred to as a Robin Reliant) is a small three-wheeled car manufactured by the Reliant Motor Company in Tamworth, England. ...
References This article is not about the magazine, Popular Science Popular science is interpretation of science intended for a general audience, rather than for other scientists or students. ...
The daily Seattle Times is the leading newspaper in Seattle, Washington, United States. ...
See also The future of the automobile is a controversial topic, with some advocates arguing that the car has no future, and others that the car will in the future supplant most other forms of transport. ...
Personal Air Vehicle or PAV is a term widely adopted by the U.S. aviation community and is used to describe a class of light general aviation aircraft which meet a specialized set of design and performance goals. ...
The CarterCopter is an advanced aircraft, a combined fixed wing aeroplane/autogyro currently under development by Carter Aviation Technologies, a privately owned company based in Wichita Falls, Texas. ...
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