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| "I could have sworn I parked my flying car here." |
Flying vehicles have long been staples of Science
Fiction. TV shows like "The Jetsons," "Space Precinct," and "Doctor Who" demonstrated how useful flying cars could
be. Movies like "Back to the Future" built
on this, not only showing how the power of flight could make driving a time-traveling De Lorean even more fun, but how cool hover-boards could be. The "Star Wars" movies and the TV show "Galactica 1980" suggested that even motorcycles could fly. And that’s to say nothing of all the remarkable
inventions that SF books have promised us.
One important role of Science Fiction is to inspire real
world scientists and engineers. Stories
about rocketships inspired America’s space program. "Star Trek" communicators led to modern
cellphones. So, just like Scott Listfield and his astronaut, I find myself asking where are all the flying
vehicles? From time to time we see
inventors demonstrate their version of a flying car, yet no company has ever
taken up the challenge of manufacturing them.
Were those dreams too fantastic? Is the necessary technology accessible,
but still under development? Or were
these projects squashed by powerful government forces?
Perhaps there’s hope for all of us like Scott Listfield who
dream of someday owning a flying car. A
company called Terrafugia is developing one, and expects to
deliver some to happy new owners next year. For just twenty hours of flight instruction,
and a paltry $279,000, you could drive and fly their first model, called the
Transition. Sign me up for the sporty,
hybrid model…but not the convertible.
Dragon Dave
Related Internet Links
Article: The Car of the Future
