Not that I watched it, but in the 1989 tear-jerking melodrama “Back to the Future II,” the film “predicted” that we’d have flying cars in 2015.
For those of you keeping track at home, that was (please wait while I count), 10 years ago.
Another prediction that was off-target: “Terrafugia has announced its Transition design, which is part sedan, part private jet with two seats, four wheels, and wings that fold up so it can be driven like a car, will be on sale in less than two years.”
That was written in 2013, which was (please wait while I count), 12 years ago.
The good news is: Terrafugia, and a number of other innovative companies, are still working on flying cars, and are “very close” to having them available to the public.
A number of years ago, Terrafugia announced its plans for a TF-X model that would be small enough to fit in a garage, and wouldn’t need a runway to take off. The TF-X was supposed to be a street-legal, plug-in hybrid car that had collapsible wings, retractable propellers, and would be capable of driving and flying on its own in case of an emergency.
Terrafugia also claimed that the TF-X:
• will only take an average driver no more than five hours to learn how to operate (48 hours in Alabama).
• will have a backup fullvehicle parachute system which can be activated by the operator in an emergency if the operator believes the TF-X to be incapable of auto-landing.
• will carry four people in car-like comfort, and have a non-stop flight range of at least 500 miles.
• will be able to takeoff vertically.
Unfortunately, in February of 2021, Terrafugia laid off most of its employees, closed its U.S. operations, and moved to China, where they are still trying to launch the TF-X.
Which is where XPeng Aero HD comes in. The Chinese company claims to have developed a vehicle that is capable of taking off and landing vertically. It does not have wings or wheels, but a vertical landing system like a helicopter.
Xpeng plans to begin mass production in 2026 (yeah, right). The estimated cost of the flying car will be around $280,740, before you add any tariffs.
So, any day now (ha!), we’re going to have flying cars. In about 10 years, we may have flying cars that won’t even need a runway. You’ll just fly out of your driveway like a helicopter, then zoom forward to your destination.
How are we, as a society, going to deal with flying cars when 75 percent of our driving population doesn’t know how to use a turn signal? Will there be highways in the sky or will we just fly around willynilly wherever we want?
I understand the manufacturers claim most everything will be automated on these flying machines, but if there is a possibility for human error, I’m sure we’ll exploit it to its fullest extent.
Think of the infrastructure that will need to be created, or abandoned. “The Jetsons” just flew their flying car right up to their balcony/garage, then George Jetson folded up his car in a briefcase when he went to work.
That car-into-briefcase technology, though, won’t be available until at least 2062, according to “The Jetsons.” On that program, George Jetson’s work week was three hours a day, three days a week.
I can’t wait until 2062 for that to become a reality. C’mon, nerds, I need a flying car and a nine-hour work week – now!
