[Nick]

Are these the flying cars of the future?

How close are we to flying cars becoming a reality?
Are Bladerunner's Spinners ever going to go into production?

This article talks about some of the partnerships and concepts that are certainly getting closer through some well known manufacturers. Interested in your thoughts. There's lots to consider when they do ever reach general (if not mass) production. Like, where's the delineation between roads and air traffic routes? Is the driving licence heading to being a hybrid drivers/pilots licence?

Let me know your thoughts.
Meanwhile here's a clip of a Spinner from Bladerunner!

[Drivingforfun]

The only way I could even vaguely see it is combined with self-driving (flying) vehicles I think! From the little I know about flying, adding a 3rd dimension complicates stuff exponentially, far too much for the vast majority of car drivers to think about; and that complication is excluding the new challenge of actually controlling the thing in the first place

[Nick]

Do you mean by utilising an "auto-pilot" style function @Drivingforfun ?
That makes sense to me too.

[Rolebama]

I have enough to worry about driving in a two-dimensional environment. I don't think I could handle debris falling from the third dimension, and I have no doubt it will come if flying cars are introduced in this fashion.
On a side note; James May wanted to fly a flying car, as he already has a Driving Licence and relevant Pilot's Licence. Should have been a simple job, but I seem to remember him saying that he ended up paying for his own insurance, as the programme makers refused to pay the exorbitant sum the insurer wanted.

[olduser]

The recent helicopter airplane crash in Washington USA should kill off any ideas about aircars.
These were two professional pilots in controlled airspace.

The other thought is, I just don't see motorists doing pre-flight checks, yet if the power fails you can't ring the RAC!

The just might have a use as an emergency vehicle.

[Rolebama]

@olduser The point you make about pre-flight checks is very valid. I have honestly lost count of the breakdowns I have attended because of not carrying out any checks - ever, and those who ignored red warning lights. Failed alternators, low oil levels, low coolant levels, running out of fuel and brake faults being the main obvious ones. Crashed cars, death, blown engines, all so easily avoided, yet I have no doubt it still goes on.

[olduser]

I regularly use hospital transport, frequently taxi's, and they usually showing some engine warning or other.
Yesterday's was a taxi, it was advising on the display, Oil issue, I asked the driver what it meant, he didn't know, he said it had been on all all week!

[Rolebama]

I had a number of occasions where people had idiot lights on, and I used to ask for the Manual to check them. (I didn't actually need to, I was just curious if they had one.) Almost every one was still in the sealed plastic bag they come on. Yet, in conversation, these same people would tell me of the amount of hours they spent poring over the manual for their £150 video recorder. FWIW, they were always men. (Or males, anyway.)

[NMNeil]

And as others have said the stumbling block will be trying to get insurance. It's already hideously expensive just for a regular car, but a flying car?
We already know the risks of driving on the roads, now add the possibility of a bird strike, a sudden change in the weather such as high winds or the chance of being knocked out of the sky by Tweedle Dee the wonder dummies hobby drone.
But imagine if you, and thousands of others jump into a flying car and drive/fly into London, where will you land, where will you park?

[Nick]

I think, like many innovations that come along in this arena, putting in the supporting infrastructure and laws/guidelines, will take some time. Look at the infrastructure for EVs, it's not that long ago that there was nowhere to charge an EV and now there are charging stations in town centre car parks, supermarket car parks, motorway services, and attached to peoples' homes.

I like that the innovation is happening - I'm interested to see how it's managed in the future.