Skycar crashes and burns?

Flying car community rounds on flying car

By Lester Haines • Get more from this author

Posted in Business, 27th March 2001 10:14 GMT

Tune into our application security webcast, click here

Inventor Paul Moller's recently unveiled Skycar - the 21st century solution to commuting woes - has come under heavy ground fire from a Massachusetts Institute of Technology aeroboffin.

According to aircraft design expert John Hansman, quoted in a piece in the National Post, the Skycar is "a piece of junk". He further states: "Everybody has always wanted to have an airplane that would launch from their driveway and fly to wherever they wanted to go, and it exists and it's called a helicopter".

The article further claims that some NASA insiders have also cast aspersions on the design's feasability.

For his part, Paul Moller is having none of it: "It's not something you can defend easily and I don't try. I'd just as soon they think I'm a crackpot for the next couple of years because when they do realize the credibility of the technology I will have that additional advantage of being further ahead," he stated.

This whole debate smacks of the "they called me mad, but who's laughing now?" mad scientist type thing. However, the Skycar has yet to take to the air. Mr Moller, it's time to walk it like you talk it. We at Vulture Central welcome, nay demand, our flying car. In short - Where's our flying car? ®

So, where is my flying car?

See what The Register's experts have to say on application security