Future Cities Transport

Finally, a flying car for everybody? It’s the idiot-proof aerial commuter

Peter Shadbolt, for CNN
Updated 7:45 AM EDT, Wed October 7, 2015
An artist's impression of the MyCopter personal aviation vehicle. The European Union wants to make the dream of a flying car a reality, researching the feasibility of small commuter air vehicles to ease the world's traffic congestion.
Rising above it all —
An artist's impression of the MyCopter personal aviation vehicle. The European Union wants to make the dream of a flying car a reality, researching the feasibility of small commuter air vehicles to ease the world's traffic congestion.
Courtesy of MyCopter
An artist's impression of the cockpit of the MyCopter project. Research institutes have spent years designing a cockpit that resembles a car and that anyone can pilot with a minimum of training.
Rising above it all —
An artist's impression of the cockpit of the MyCopter project. Research institutes have spent years designing a cockpit that resembles a car and that anyone can pilot with a minimum of training.
courtesy of mycopter
Several flying cars are already in production. The Pal-V can carry two people at 180kph and has a range of 350-500km.
Rising above it all —
Several flying cars are already in production. The Pal-V can carry two people at 180kph and has a range of 350-500km.
courtesy of pal-v
The gyrocopter cruises below 4,000ft and needs 540 feet of runway for take-off and 100 feet to land. The MyCopter project is looking at a design that can lift itself out of traffic with very little headway.
Rising above it all —
The gyrocopter cruises below 4,000ft and needs 540 feet of runway for take-off and 100 feet to land. The MyCopter project is looking at a design that can lift itself out of traffic with very little headway.
Courtesy of Pal-v
In terms of road performance, the Pal-V can reach a maximum speed of 180 km/h (112mph) has a fuel economy of 28mpg and a range of 750 miles.
Rising above it all —
In terms of road performance, the Pal-V can reach a maximum speed of 180 km/h (112mph) has a fuel economy of 28mpg and a range of 750 miles.
courtesy of pal-v
Terrafugia's TF-X is designed as a four-seat, plug-in hybrid electric flying car that's capable of performing fly-by-wire vertical take offs and landings.
Rising above it all —
Terrafugia's TF-X is designed as a four-seat, plug-in hybrid electric flying car that's capable of performing fly-by-wire vertical take offs and landings.
Terrafugia
The company has already produced a two-seater, fixed wing, street legal plane called the Transition.
Rising above it all —
The company has already produced a two-seater, fixed wing, street legal plane called the Transition.
Jan Fridrich
The Volocopter, one of the world's first electric helicopters, features 18 rotors on a 10-meter-wide carbon frame. The eco-friendly flying machine has been €4 million ($5.4 million) and two years in the making.
Rising above it all —
The Volocopter, one of the world's first electric helicopters, features 18 rotors on a 10-meter-wide carbon frame. The eco-friendly flying machine has been €4 million ($5.4 million) and two years in the making.
CNN
Finally, a flying car for everybody? 'Mycopter' designs idiot-proof aerial commuter