Flying Car 2012

Is this car for real? Yes. Will it drive on a normal road like a regular car? Yes. Will it really be released in 2012. Yes. Will we all be driving one in the next few years? Probably not unless your a millionaire. The car comes with a price tag of $US 279,000. Incidentally purchasing a small plane including upkeep and renting a place to have it stored would actually cost less than this car.

But there is no denying that a car that can drive on the road and fly in the sky is an incredible innovation and combined some serious complex technologies to make. This model, the Transition, which is to be released some time later this year by Terrafugia will run on a normal tank of gas. So on that commute to work in the morning there is no problem stopping at your local BP, mobile, shell or any other gas station.

Overall I would say it is a great idea but there are some drawbacks. Besides the high price which I've said before is much more expensive than simple owning a car and a plane you also must go and get a sport pilot license, but this only requires 20 hours of observed flight. Also before you get any ideas of flying your car of of any random road or highway you'll need to keep in mind that you can only take off from an airport. After all if you extended the side wings oncoming traffic would smash your left wing right off.

So you can drive on the road with other cars but must go to the airport before you take off. In retrospect the idea of simply owning your own small plan and driving your own car to the airport would be much more cost effective. Thus the main reason would be convenience. You can simply jump in your car and head to the airport, for that big business trip take off and land at an airport and then drive straight to the conference. It does beat waiting around for flights, or paying to have a plane stored when you can just keep it in your own garage.

There are a few things that would worry me and I would assume worry the authorities over this type of car however. High speed chases would take on a whole new meaning. If they think some road rage maniac can do some damage driving around a city imagine what he can do if he can fly away every time the police get close. I know some are thinking but they would have flying police cars, but how would they bring him down? A nice missile? Nothing like a flaming wreckage spewing across a residential area. I can also imagine a nice sunny day at an international border crossing lineup as the border guards look up to see a flying car illegally entering the country.

I have to admit though if I could own one I would. Would you? Let me know what you think.

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