It's 2010 - Where are the flying cars?!

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's Awesome Applesauce: Charles Quevedo

People have always had a fascination with "flight".  Ever since "man" first looked up at the birds soaring through the sky, he dreamed about joining them up there.

In Greek mythology, "Icarus" attempted to escape Crete by flying with a pair of wings made of wax and feathers (only to fall into the sea after he flew too close to the sun, which melted the wax).

In 1902, Orville and Wilbur Wright, successfully made the first machine-manned flight with a glider.  In later years, we added propellers... and then jet engines... to these machines.  We later called them "airplanes".  Since then, humans have flown around the world countless times.

In the 1940/50's, people had the idea that we all would be piloting our own personal "flying cars" by the year 2000.  It was almost like a "promise" that we would be zipping around like "The Jetsons" by that time.  Well, it's now 2010.  Several private companies have already developed prototypes...

So, I need to ask... "Where the hell is my flying car"?!

 

It's rumored that the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) believes in the possibility of a flying car so much, they've had their mad scientists working on a military prototype since 2008.  This will be a hybrid car, capable of both driving and flying.  With wings that can fold and unfold, it will be capable of vertical takeoffs and landings (very much like a helicopter).  When the vehicle is in "flight" mode, soldiers could avoid roadside bombs and enemy ambushes.  They're hoping it could be used for scouting, evacuating wounded soldiers, and delivering commandos to hostile enemy areas.  Although a flying car could give U.S. troops a tactical advantage during warfare, it does have great potential in the civilian marketplace as a family vehicle.

Let's admit it, we all want that flying car that we've seen in movies ("Back To The Future II", "Blade Runner", and "The Fifth Element").  How cool would it be to pilot your own personal air car "to-and-from" work, then tucking it safely into the garage of your home?   

ANSWER: Very cool.

When these personal "air cars" finally come out to the public, be prepared for everybody trying to break into the "Mile High Club".

PS. Dude, if we can't have flying cars just yet, can we settle for the hoverboard?!

Follow Charles on Twitter: @FuglyCharlie