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Archive Gallery: The History of the Flying Car

Posted 10.27.10 at 5:28 am 5 Comments

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Eddie Rickenbacker's Flying Autos: July 1924

We aren't the only ones who are impatient to graduate from the streets to the skies. Celebrated pilot Eddie Rickenbacker predicted that people would zip around in flying cars by the year 1944. The machine would be equipped with collapsible wings spanning 25 feet, a front-end propeller, and even pontoons for water travel. The "flying roadster's" body would be more streamlined to reduce weight, and its engine would be light, small, and supercharged. To reduce accidents and air traffic, cities would construct giant landing fields out of building rooftops connected by bridges. After landing, the flying cars would take a special elevator down to street level, where they would drive around like regular land-based vehicles.

Read the full story in "Flying Autos in 20 Years"

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Read the article: The Unexpected Rebirth of the Flying Car

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5 Comments

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elmc0319

10/28/10 at 5:35 pm

Surprised they didn't mention Terrafugia, though it's more like a plane you can fit in your garage:

http://www.terrafugia.com/

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DWH

10/28/10 at 7:19 pm

That flying jeep looks extremely cool,but I would not want to eat all the dust!

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woowoo678

11/04/10 at 11:21 am

@elmc0319
Once again we see some stupid business trying to sell their stuff on this website again *facepalm*

But, jeez, that airgeep was even better than the best thing since sliced bread! It worked perfectly and the army shrugged it off as unsuitable for the battlefield!

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Attila

11/12/10 at 8:31 pm

Mad Rocket Scientist

The earlier edition of the flying jeep called the 'Fleep' was a motorized 'sled' with 'Ultralight' wings. It could take off in about 15 feet and could land in about thirty. It was developed by Ryan Aeronautical in San Diego for the US Army. They were used for wounded evacuation and light cargo delivery.

The Ultralight wings could be easily 'retracted' (folded) for use as a ground transport vehicle. On at least one model, the engine operated a propeller for flight and drove a 'drive wheel' while on the ground. (no minced pedestrians).

They were working on a 'test model' where a military style jeep would 'dock' with the wing unit. The jeep would be securely attached and rollers under the jeeps drive-wheels would transfer the jeeps power to the propeller. Drive up to your wings, 'dock' and fly away.

They were far cheaper to build and operate than a helicopter, but they didn't have the lift capacity of a 'chopper'. They went out of production in the late 1960's but a number were sold to the government of Lesotho (in South Africa) for medical supply and evacuation in mountainous terrain.

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mskansberg

11/17/10 at 7:07 pm

Maybe they promised flying cars in 20 years, but obviously not in a row!