Flying cars could become a reality soon, but is it necessary?

Over the last few years, several companies have presented prototypes of “flying cars“. In essence, they are small single-seaters or, at most, two-seaters, equipped with a propeller that allows them to take off and move freely over the road, as if they were small helicopters. Although they have been declared viable, none of them has managed to overcome the long list of legal problems involved in having an aircraft over busy roads. Yet every so often another one appears that could have solved all those problems and finally become the first commercial flying car.

Now it is the turn of the Dutch company PAL-V, which proposes a new model of this type of vehicle. The Liberty, which is the name given to this new model, will according to the company comply with the various safety standards of several countries, so it will be easy to come across this flying car on some European road. Or above it, anyway.

The first 90 units have been called Pioneer Edition, which will have exterior identifying elements that give them a different look from the rest of the units that will come later. Although the price of this model is put at 399,000 dollars, this special model with more exclusive elements rises to 599,000 dollars. Deliveries, to begin with, will start during 2018.

Users of this type of vehicle will need a driving licence, but also a flying licence. It is not specified what type of licence of this kind will be required, but it is assumed it will be the most basic one, given the size of the vehicle. According to the specifications offered by PAL-V, it will be able to reach 160 km/h on the road, with a flying speed of 180 km/h.

Other vehicles of this type are expected to arrive on the market. Airbus is also working on a vehicle of this kind. But doubts arise. Are they really valid for driving on all roads? We would doubt it. The legislation is very restrictive when it comes to flying vehicles. Not even the drones used to take photographs can fly just anywhere. A flying vehicle a few metres from a busy road and at low altitude represents a serious safety problem.

This type of vehicle will logically have to be used on enclosed land and under tight control. Not driving freely and without restrictions. In any case, it will be an extremely expensive toy that someone with enough money to buy it can enjoy privately and in certain situations. At least for now. What we will not deny is that it will be a very fun toy to enjoy, even if only on especially enclosed land. The future of the automotive industry? A very distant future, at least for now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfMNtCPChxo