Here in America, time isn’t cheap. Our culture is embedded with a need to succeed: we are never satisfied. Entrepreneurs in Slovakia formed a company, AeroMobil, that will formally introduce a product on October, 29, 2014 that they expect will change the lives of our generation and the generations to come.
AeroMobil has been working on a flying car since the 1990s and for the first time they think they truly mastered the product the third time around. In terms of automobile configuration, it fits to a standard parking space, its engine enables it to tank at any gas station, it is fully accustomed to road traffic and as a plane it could both take off and land at any airport in the world. At first glance, what more can you ask for? No more sitting at red lights, being crammed into a tight middle seat on an airplane, sitting in traffic and wasting time. Although it is sometimes difficult the audience needs to take a step back and really evaluate what is being offered.
Practically, the car only fits two people. The car would appeal to unmarried people and retired people and for a car this extravagant, could it be in price range? While the car has the ability to fly as a plane, where would it fly out of? More airports would have to be designed with improvements in air-traffic control. Another thing to consider is the distance the plane can fly. With a full tank of gas, the plane can travel for 430 miles. The car would make traveling within two to three states easier but it wouldn’t decrease the need for major aircraft companies for vacations. Also, planes tear through gas. Owning this vehicle would have a high initial fee as well as a large upkeep.
While I do have my concerns for this car, if it turns out to be a success there are many benefits. Having a flying car would allow people to live in suburbia with a reduced travel time to work. A flying car would add to the variety of modes of transportation which ultimately reduces traffic on the road. All of this added time could increase the productivity in work while creating more time for people’s social and family life.
Another reason this car has potential to succeed is due to the need for humans to fly. From the day we are born society shapes us to want to fly from TV shows, superheros, being tossed in the air as babies, jumping off diving boards, jumping on the trampoline… the list is endless. Our fascination with flight has decisively influenced some of our greatest scientific, cultural and political achievements. With that being said, if we are so intrigued with the concept of flying, why has it taken us this long to produce a flying car?
In theory anything could sound appealing, I’m intrigued to see where the market will take the car. Even though a flying car sounds unrealistic so did a telephone when it was invented. Maybe the product will prove me wrong.