Will There Be a Flying Car Revolution?

by FliteTest | January 2, 2019 | (2) Posted in News

As flying car concepts appear on news channels, questions arise over whether we will actually see these in our skies (this time). 

Over the last twelve months, shiny headlines about shiny flying vehicles have saturated aerospace news (…admittedly some of these headlines have been our own here at Flite Test). So, does this mean that flying cars are finally about to land on a driveway near you? 


Historically speaking, the idea to combine the convenience of a car with the range and speed of an aircraft has always been a desirable notion. To create this ideal personal flying vehicle was attempted several times throughout the 20th century but never really got anywhere. Why now, then, should the flying car be about to 'take off' as a practical and commercial success? 

The Slovakian AeroMobil 3.0 fits into a normal sized parking space. 


The drone revolution probably has quite a lot to answer for. There’s a reason we’re seeing so many eVTOL concepts plastered all over social media at the moment: the technology has finally caught up with the idea. Now, designers don’t have to rely on wings and control surfaces to make their ideas fly, they have huge powerful motors and sufficient batteries at their disposal. 


"Flying Cars are not a very efficient way to move things from one point to another".

- Bill Gates


It’s clear why the eVTOL type vehicle is appealing. Just like in Blade Runner, operators flying eVTOLs would be able to take off and land in spaces little bigger than car parks and driveways. This Aston Martin eVTOL, for example, is a 'car' with this ability marketed as the ultimate in luxury personal transportation. However, other companies trying to stake a claim to this promising new industry are sticking to more traditional designs with wings and control surfaces which have still been well received. The terrafugia flying car and AeroMobil 3.0 are two such examples. The excitement around the flying car is definitely back in a big way.

Personal Flying eVTOLs

Surefly electric helicopter

Aston Martin's Stunning Flying Car Concept

KittyHawk Flyer

Why are Flying Cars Problematic?

Despite the initial excitement around the personal flying vehicle, it's not certain whether we will see them in our skies anytime soon. Here are a few reasons why the revolution might never come. 

1. Compromise 

Historically speaking, the flying car has always been a compromise between a poor flying aircraft and a severely limited ground vehicle. Even with the eVTOL, range limitations may be a factor. 

2. Cost

Indeed, in 1900, a motor car cost far more than the majority could afford, but today will most of those who can afford the hefty price tag of a flying car prefer to buy a practical sports car and a Cessna instead? 

3. Legality

Many of the concepts released by companies over the last year have been classed as Light Sports Aircraft by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) meaning that 'drivers' must hold a sports pilot license as well as a driving license. This suggests that, for now, it might not be all that simple to acquire and drive a flying car. 

Flite Test Flying Car: Remember the time we made a DIY flying car in 2018? How could anyone forget?!

“It’s difficult to imagine the flying car becoming a scalable solution”

- Elon Musk

Although it seems that the flying car can exist, there’s still the question over whether it should. CEO of Aston Martin Dr. Andy Palmer says ‘we need to look at alternative solutions to reduce congestion’, but is the flying car the most affordable, efficient or sensible solution? Post a comment down below to let us know of your thoughts. 

Article by James Whomsley

Editor of FliteTest.com

Contact: james@flitetest.com

YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/projectairaviation 

- Find this article & others like it at www.FliteTest.com -

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COMMENTS

Fred2510 on January 8, 2019
Flying Kars?? Hell we were promised those 'by the 21st Century" Well that deadline has come and Gone.
That said: Can anyone 'sane' imagine the Chaos (in 3d no less )that flying cars (more than 2) would inevitably create. Lookit the idiocy on our roads and withing seriously constrained dedicated 2D pathways (roads) Add in the 3d aspect and It will be raining broken machines bodies and debris on helpless people below.. children.. schools, .. etc The mind Boggles
A Fools' Phantasy under any reasonable analysis.
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Ran D. St. Clair on January 3, 2019
Flying cars remain a dead end for the reasons you mentioned. Electric VTOL Aircraft are, however, a different matter. As self driving cars become a practical thing then self flying aircraft are just a few years behind, mostly limited by regulations. At that point Urban Air Taxis become practical and profitable. Urban Air Taxis are NOT flying cars, though. The idea is that you want to get from point A to B but there is lots of city traffic in between. You open your Uber, Lyft, etc. app. and it offers the air option in half the time for twice the price and you agree. A self driving car picks you up and takes you just a mile or so to the nearest air terminal, usually on top of a parking garage or on top of a freeway interchange. You exit the car and immediately board the EVTOL with 2 or 3 other passengers. In 15 minutes you are on the other side of town, or landing in the suburbs at another small air terminal. Another self driving car is waiting to take you the "last mile" to your destination. Total travel time, 45 minutes to an hour. Had you gone by ground, 2.5 hours plus, mostly stuck in traffic. It's about 5 years away at select locations, 10 years to be widely available. The Electric VTOL (EVTOL) aircraft are relatively quiet, almost inaudible in forward flight, and not as loud as a helicopter in hover. They cruise at about 120 MPH at about 1,000 ft. and have a range of about 35 miles, plus safety margin. They are well safer than driving, but not as safe per passenger mile as a jet liner. They are fully autonomous, with no driver, just passengers. They look totally cool with unusual configurations that we have not typically seen before. They are NOT flying cars though. They do not drive on the street, land or even park in your driveway. Unless you are very rich, you don't own one. They are part of a service and you only pay for the service when you need it. You might not use it to commute everyday, at least not until the travel volume goes way up and the price comes down.
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Ray Bingham on January 5, 2019
What we don't need is a sky full of one man vehicles zooming around congesting the sky like they presently do on the ground. We need more economical multi passenger ground vehicles. We need to use passenger vehicles as multi passenger vehicles and reduce the number of cars on the road. We also need to get beyond the use of fossil fuels for our main energy source. The atmosphere is already beyond the breaking point.
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T-Richard on January 3, 2019
Neil Degrasse Tyson said it best, flying cars exist, they're called helicopters.

The logistics, legality, safety and sheer energetic needs a "flying car" would need is beyond reason. Doesn't seem practical or realistic. I couldn't afford a helicopter and I don't know how practical it would be if I did. I certainly don't see anyone running errands, doing groceries or even visiting relatives by helicopter
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Will There Be a Flying Car Revolution?