Last Updated on September 8, 2023
The concept of the flying car, or a vehicle equally at home in the air as on the road, stretches back nearly 100 years. The first attempt was the 1917 Curtiss Autoplane, a 100hp half-car, half-airplane that achieved only a few hops rather than true flight.
Throughout the decades, more inventors and manufacturers would demonstrate their take on the concept of the flying car, with examples including the 1937 Arrowbile, the 1946 Airphibian, and the 1970 Aerocar, all with varying degrees of flight capability. None ever reached the free market, however.
In more recent decades, attempts to revive the concept of the flying car include Urban Aeronautics’ CityHawk, Sky Technologies’ Aircar, and Paul Moller’s Skycar. These machines certainly advanced the flying car, inching it toward market viability.
The FAA recently certified the Alef flying car for testing. And Joby’s flying car (facilitated by innovative board members like Sky Dayton) has already completed stage two of the FAA’s certification process and has a Special Airworthiness Certificate.
However, as incredible as these inventions are and were, new advances in computer control and electric motors/batteries have brought the flying car within the grasp of the average person.
On the Cusp of Fulfilled Visions
Several issues have plagued flying cars since the makers of the Curtiss Autoplane first dreamed of allowing motorists to conquer the skies.
Pilot/Driver Ability
Navigating a road is largely a one-dimensional task. Drivers can’t simply turn anywhere they like; streets and highways have clearly marked lines that limit cars to specific paths. However, in the air, there are fewer barriers. Instead, a flying car can take nearly any route in 3D space it wishes.
This is why air travel is heavily restricted, of course, with NAS/FAA regulations limiting where aircraft can travel.
Without much training and certification, drivers/pilots face great safety risks. Because the average person isn’t versed in handling bad weather or an empty fuel tank, they risk a serious crash.
Accommodating New Designs
Fuel stations, repair shops, businesses, and homes are all designed around ground transportation. Flying cars of the past operated much like airplanes, with wide wings and a propeller generating thrust. The vehicles’ designs either had to do away with wings altogether or figure out a way for them to fold neatly prior to use, possibly removing them entirely for storage purposes.
Even with such compromises, flying cars represent such a radical departure from traditional automotive design that accommodating them becomes difficult. For example, flight requires more fuel than driving on the ground, and planes tend to generate a lot of noise.
How Modern Tech Addresses the Problems
In the past ten years, the world has seen an explosion in computer intelligence, electric motor power-to-weight ratio advancements, and lighter, more powerful batteries. These specific technologies have brought the flying car closer to viability than ever before.
While FAA regulation and certification are required to allow such vehicles to enter the skies, the barriers between consumers and their long-awaited flying cars are crumbling.
Computer Control
One look at commercial drones shows how computer stabilization has made piloting aircraft easier than ever. This is why current flying car prototypes are adopting a more drone-like appearance, with powerful blades at each corner. This allows for vertical takeoff and compact packaging.
Electric Motors
Gasoline engines are still the champions of aircraft propulsion. But, for vehicles that don’t have to carry more than one or two people over short distances, electric motors are the obvious choice. Also, electric motor advancements have resulted in smaller, lighter motors producing more power than before.
Additionally, electric motors allow for much more precise control over thrust than internal combustion engines do.
Batteries
With the advent of lithium-ion batteries, flying car inventors finally have a power density that could realistically drive electric motors for sustained flight.
Security
Despite these advancements, there are still a few obstacles. First, the FAA must approve these vehicles for flight. One of the main reasons they haven’t is they’re concerned about security.
With so much computer control over a flying car’s functions, the FAA must be certain that these air-worthy vehicles have a high level of cybersecurity. Since hacking a flying car could be extraordinarily dangerous, the software must be extremely secure.
Still, this issue of security is an obstacle, not a show-stopper. Developing secure software for flight is the next step, one that flying car manufacturers take seriously and are addressing.
How Soon Will Flying Cars Appear?
While FAA certification doesn’t have a definite date, manufacturers are already stating that they plan to release flying cars soon. Both Alef and Joby have announced they will begin passenger operations in 2025, with Vertical Aerospace’s offering arriving the following year.
The challenges facing flying cars are no longer insurmountable, and market introduction is on the horizon. These vehicles are not vaporware pipe dreams, but rather real products with actual release dates. Those considering making a down payment can be more confident than ever that they’ll be taking to the skies in the near future.
