OK. So we've gotten really good at moving an object quickly on four wheels - we've even installed hydraulic winglets on a car's exterior shell for better aerodynamics. But what about the ability to fly? Has that notion been forgotten?
Not exactly. As it turns out, we've been at it for quite some time, thanks to a few brave engineers who looked towards the sky rather than at roads. The following 10 'flying cars' aren't the type we got used to in comic books and sci-fi films; they don't have anti-gravity thrusters, fancy glass domes or special gull-wing doors. They are, in fact, powered by conventional means of modern flight, such as jet-engines, turbo-props or electric-powered air fans.
Terrafugia Transition
(2012-present) Terrafugia Transition
As the name suggests, the ‘Transition’ switches from car to plane, thanks to its hydraulically-deployed wings and ailerons, which fold to the side when driven on the road. Unveiled in 2009, the Transition successfully proved its abilities both on the ground and in the air, building two units so far. In January, 2013, Terrafugia hinted at the possibility of a third prototype, after the company said several improvements in safety, performance and aesthetics have changed the Transition’s overall design. (2012- present) PAL-V One Developed by the Dutch company, ‘PAL-V Europe’ is this two-seater gyrocopter, capable of transforming into a road-going three-wheeled car/motorcycle at the switch of a button. What makes the ‘One’ unique is its ability to take off vertically, thanks to two propellers (one to go forward and one for lift) that, when in ‘car’ mode, tuck away and transfer the power to the rear wheels. The prototype flew successfully in 2012, and the company is currently seeking funds to create a model for production. So things are looking up. Literally.
