Can this really be? Key word 'almost'

[Mels]

This Car Drives and Flies—Almost
Paul Moller hasn't built a flying car, but the engineer is trying to get this project off the ground. In the meantime, he's selling off other ideas.
By Justin Martin

Paul Moller's M400 has flown, but never higher than a child's kite.
Photo: Markham Johnson

The company's headquarters are an anonymous low-rise building in a nondescript Davis, Calif., industrial park. So there's no way to prepare for what you'll find lurking inside: a ferocious, eight-engine space gizmo on steroids, complete with a Jetsons bubble cockpit and searing red paint job—the lone existing prototype of the M400 Skycar.

Developing it has cost inventor Paul Moller, 67, bigtime: some 40 years of his life, $70 million, and two marriages. For all that effort, outlay, and anguish, he's still nowhere near his goal. While the Skycar looks really cool, it doesn't do much sky-ing, nor is it capable of much car-ing. Moller has done a handful of quick test flights but has never gotten higher than a child's kite. As for driving, a person could realistically travel about 35 mph on the Skycar's spindly three-wheeled landing gear—not ideal for the morning commute.

full story:
http://www.fortune.com/fortune/onlyonaol/bigstory

[FG Lurker]

[DJEB]

Even if Moller can get a workable & safe version that could be flown by Joe Sixpack (aka Charles) into production, he is going to face huge hurdles with aviation authorities.

The thought of a million plus fliers commuting in personal aircraft terrifies me. Most people I see on the roads here or in Canada or the U.S. can barely drive cars properly. I'd hate to let them fly.

[FG Lurker]

The thought of a million plus fliers commuting in personal aircraft terrifies me. Most people I see on the roads here or in Canada or the U.S. can barely drive cars properly. I'd hate to let them fly.

Keep honkin', I'm reloading.

You're right though. Can you imagine a million people like Charles trying to fly to work? "I've known everything since before you were born! I don't need no damn license or training! Gimme those keys!!"

[Charles]

The flying Pinto

[FG Lurker]

The flying Pinto

If there was ever a car made for you Chuck, the Pinto would have to be it. Or maybe the AMC Pacer... I can just imagine you cruising through downtown dullsville in your brand new Pacer.

[dimwit]

Ya don't needa car or even wings to fly - just get a lawnchair and some weather balloons.



instructions and science quiz here

[Charles]

Balloon Man

[FG Lurker]

Ya don't needa car or even wings to fly - just get a lawnchair and some weather balloons.

instructions and science quiz here

It's a true story, but didn't happen quite like the Internet version.

Here's a more accurate version from snopes.com.