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[–] 28 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (14 children)

Here’s the thing everyone seems to be forgetting. Once a motorized vehicle leaves the ground under powered flight it is no longer under DOT’s domain it is now under FAA’s domain. FAA licenses are way harder to get and way easier to lose. They also require annual tests to keep. This is why flying cars are a non starter, because to pilot them you need a general aviation license.

There are exceptions but it’s always in the ultralight or experimental categories. A release of this car will fit neither of those categories.

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  • [–] 14 points 3 weeks ago (5 children)

    Yeah this car will never be for sale. There will be the $50,000 version which has none of the compressed air loaded into it, and a tuned up version with some boost for the 0-60. The flying car they showed yesterday was the only one that will ever do that, because it was a literal stunt for the shareholders.

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  • [–] 3 points 3 weeks ago (1 child)

    Note that even the lowest even described model (50k just to reserve a spot for unspecified price and based on Tesla historically, unknown delivery date) there are issues.

    They claim the active down force fan will be on that, but I hear that even on tracks they frequently aren't allowed. It's not likely to be a street legal thing, given what happens with road debris in such a scenario.

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  • [–] 1 point 3 weeks ago

    Correct. There is zero chance they ever come out with a flying car

    New planes are fucking expensive. Hundreds of thousands of dollars. 50% of the cost of those planes is airframe certification and insurance for the manufacturer

    Planes used to be war cheaper, but liability and bureaucracy has slowly been killing GA for a few decades

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  • [–] 13 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

    Even funnier, you're generally not allowed to land on roads so once you take off you have a problem with that flying car. Debris flying around will also be fun.

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  • [–] 1 point 3 weeks ago

    You can land on roads. It's just rare it would be safe and a good idea

    Big tire super cubs do it pretty often in rural Alaska

    Biggest problems landing on roads is power lines and traffic. If either are present, it's emergency only

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  • [–] 3 points 3 weeks ago

    They also require annual tests to keep

    No they don't. Good for life, although I do need to do a flight review every 24 months

    Flight reviews are pretty chill, juat do a flight with an instructor (or anyone else certified to sign off on it). We should require these for drivers too on license renewal

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