Flying car: Difference between revisions
Virtualerian (talk | contribs) science fiction details |
Virtualerian (talk | contribs) Merged content from Flying car (fiction) to here. See Talk:Flying car (aircraft)#"Flying car" definition |
||
| Line 46: | Line 46: | ||
== See also == |
== See also == |
||
* [[Roadable aircraft]] |
* [[Roadable aircraft]] |
||
* [[ |
* [[Hovercar]] |
||
* [[List of fictional vehicles#Flying cars/personal spacecraft|List of fictional vehicles – flying cars and personal spacecraft] |
|||
* [[Future car technologies]] |
* [[Future car technologies]] |
||
* [[Personal air vehicle]] |
* [[Personal air vehicle]] |
||
Revision as of 14:43, 7 September 2013
A flying car is envisioned to be an aircraft that could take-off, fly and land throughout urban enviroments. Hypothetically, such aircrafts could possibly also be used as commonly and conveniently as a car and be practical enough for every-day travel. Such cars have been largely depicted in science fiction films and television series such as Star Wars, Blade Runner, Back to the Future Part II and The Fifth Element.
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 specially-prepared operating areas. In such works they can often start and land automatically in a garage or on a parking lot.[1] In addition, the science-fiction version of the flying car typically resembles a conventional car with no visible means of propulsion, unlike that of an fixed-wing aircraft or helicopter. Some fantasy films, such as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang[2] employ the same motif. In most cases the exact mechanism for achieving flight is never revealed.
In addition, flying cars have become a running joke; the question "Where is my flying car?" is emblematic of the supposed failure of modern technology to match futuristic visions that were promoted in earlier decades.
The term "flying car" is sometimes refer to roadable aircraft. Also, flying car is subtly different from a hovercar, which flies at a constant altitude of a few meters above the ground.
History
In the postwar 1950s, the flying car was a common feature of science-fiction conceptions of the future, including imagined near futures such as those of the 21st century.
In 1956, Ford's Advanced Design studio built the Volante Tri-Athodyne, a 3/8 scale concept car model. It was designed have three ducted fans, each with their own motor, that would lift it off the ground and move it through the air. In public relation release, Ford noted that "the day where there will be an aero-car in every garage is still some time off", but added that "the Volante indicates one direction that the styling of such a vehicle would take".[3]
Also, Ford conducted a serious feasibility study for a air-levitation vehicles.[3] They concluded that such a vehicle 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 vehicles that were explored by Ford was projected to be at least fiftyfold less expensive.[citation needed]
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 pilots or pilots that drive/fly without a license. Standards would have to be agreed upon by the international community, such as air miles being translated to nautical miles and not affecting the reading of the odometer. Furthermore, there would be serious concerns among the public in built up urban areas, that malfunctioning or incorrectly operated flying cars could crash into houses, shopping districts or pedestrian areas, severely damaging buildings or killing civilians.[citation needed]
Modern development
- Urban Aeronautics' X-Hawk[4] 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 promoted for rescue and utility functions. The first prototype flew in 2009.
- 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. Moller has been developing VTOL craft since the late 1960s, but no Moller vehicle has ever achieved free flight out of ground effect. The proposed Autovolantor model has an all-electric version powered by Altairnano batteries.[6]
In popular culture
Complaints of the non-existence of flying cars have become nearly idiomatic as expressions of disappointment in the failure of the present to measure up to the glory of past predictions.
The December 30, 1989 Calvin and Hobbes comic strip depicted an early instance of the "Where are the flying cars?" idea:
Hobbes: "A new decade is coming up."
Calvin: "Yeah, big deal! Hmph. Where are the flying cars? Where are the moon colonies? Where are the personal robots and the zero-gravity boots, huh? You call this a new decade?! You call this the future?? HA! Where are the rocket packs? Where are the disintegration rays? Where are the floating cities?"[7]
A 2001 IBM television commercial featured Avery Brooks (know for his role as Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Captain Benjamin Sisko ) complaining "It is the year 2000, but where are the flying cars? I was promised flying cars. I don’t see any flying cars. Why? Why? Why?"[citation needed]
Comedian Lewis Black had a similar routine early in the decade: "This new millennium sucks! It's exactly the same as the old millennium! You know why? No flying cars!"[citation needed]
In films
- The Absent Minded Professor: In this movie, Ned Brainard, played by Fred Macmurray, invents a flying car Model T using Flubber in his engine. He uses his flying car for a fun joyride and to get to the Medfield Basketball tournament. Ned Brainard would again use his flying car Model T in Son of Flubber The flying car would be seen again in the 1997 Flubber remake starring Robin Williams.
- Back to the Future Part II: Dr. Emmett Brown uses a DeLorean DMC-12 to invent a time machine, which is modified in the second part of the Back to the Future trilogy so that it can fly.
- In the Blade Runner movie special people, police and Harrison Ford use a "Spinner" an antigravity flying car to move in the futuristic-cyberpunk Los Angeles of 2019.
In television series
- The animated television series The Jetsons, premiering in 1962, reflected the idea that flying cars would become a significant means of transportation in the future.
- Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: In this 1993 TV show Power Rangers. Billy the Blue Ranger invents a flying car using the Volkswagen Beetle he dubbed the "Rad Bug" It was useful at times when they couldn't teleport to places.
- The Flying Car was a humorous short film written by Kevin Smith in 2002 for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. It featured Dante Hicks and Randal Graves stuck in traffic, discussing the lengths to which a man might go to obtain such a vehicle.[8]
See also
- Roadable aircraft
- Hovercar
- [[List of fictional vehicles#Flying cars/personal spacecraft|List of fictional vehicles – flying cars and personal spacecraft]
- Future car technologies
- Personal air vehicle
- Comparison of personal air vehicles
- CarterCopter
- Intermodal passenger transport
References
- ^ Thomas Vinciguerra (April 11, 2009). "Flying Cars: An Idea Whose Time Has Never Come". New York Times.
- ^ Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at IMDb
- ^ a b Joseph J. Cor, Brian Horrigan (May 15, 1996). Yesterday's Tomorrows: Past Visions of the American Future. Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0801853999.
- ^ "Urban Aeronautics". Urbanaero.com. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
- ^ http://www.moller.com
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ Bill Watterson: Calvin and Hobbes December 30, 1989
- ^ The Flying Car at IMDb
External links
- Roadable Times, pictures and descriptions of over 70 designs of flying cars and roadable aircraft past and present.
- Flying cars in 25 years at BBC News Online.
- How Flying Cars Will Work at HowStuffWorks.
- X-Hawk from HowStuffWorks
