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US startup reveals new flying car prototype

By T.K. Randall
July 16, 2018 · Comment icon 17 comments

Would you get in to one of these ? Image Credit: Opener / BlackFly
Named BlackFly, the new aerial vehicle doesn't require a pilot's license and will cost the same as a typical SUV.
Developed by Palo Alto-based firm Opener, the vehicle has been designed to be both affordable and easy to use so that it can be flown by just about anyone, not just experienced pilots.

Described as more of a human-carrying drone than a flying car due to its inability to drive on the ground, BlackFly is nonetheless an impressive entry in the ever-burgeoning line-up of futuristic manned aerial vehicles currently in development by companies all over the world.

"You have total command of three-dimensional space," said Opener's chief executive Marcus Leng. "When you press the thumb-stick to climb, you have absolute full control. When you stop in the middle of the air and go off the joystick, the aircraft freezes."
"And when I say freezes... it literally freezes in the air."

In addition to accommodating a human pilot, the vehicle can even fly autonomously as well.

"Watching BlackFly take flight just blew me away," said Darren Pleasance, director of the US Experimental Aircraft Association. "I've never seen anything like it."



Source: BBC News | Comments (17)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #8 Posted by Jon the frog 7 years ago
Cool another device for Darwin intervention !
Comment icon #9 Posted by Nzo 7 years ago
That looks very very cool! I would disagree with him about needling a license to fly one. Maybe under current law but as soon as more than a few people own it society will demand people know how to fly it, especially after the first casualty.
Comment icon #10 Posted by fred_mc 7 years ago
Well, I wouldn't put any money into that. Many companies have already tried doing the same, ever since the 1950s, without any success.
Comment icon #11 Posted by Chaldon 7 years ago
Ehang 184 still seems more promising.
Comment icon #12 Posted by psyche101 7 years ago
I think it's feasible. Uber seems to have come up with a drone based system, the first fleets will be piloted though. They expect to be in operation by 2020 and expect that within 5-10 years will compete with ground based transport on a cost basis.  https://www.uber.com/info/elevate/ https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp.news.com.au/technology/uber-targets-australian-cities-sydney-and-melbourne-for-its-elevate-flying-car-service/news-story/2ff9af814b5f5e8e5be52d30a13a3f76   I do think that the flying car is finally here. 
Comment icon #13 Posted by Chaldon 7 years ago
And now imagine the same number of flying cars in the air as in that traffic jam below. Otherwise it will be nothing but a short-lived luxury contraption like Condorde was.
Comment icon #14 Posted by psyche101 7 years ago
It won't be the same principle, especially when relegated to a completely autonomous fleet. It will all be run by computers being guided by GPS satellites.  I always thought the concorde was killed of prematurely and lots of concepts seek to replace it. 
Comment icon #15 Posted by Chaldon 7 years ago
As far as I remember there was a talk around 2015 they're going to reboot it. Still it was incredibly costly.
Comment icon #16 Posted by TripGun 7 years ago
Another startup by the same group deals with prosthetic arms & such.
Comment icon #17 Posted by psyche101 7 years ago
I think it's more aimed at business flights currently, small jets of 10 or so people. 


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