Flying car concepts have been around for 100 years: Here's a look at some of them

Did you think that flying cars were a recent concept? If yes, then you’ve got it wrong my friend! The concepts and also some successful attempts in building flying-cars have been in practice since as early as 1917! Hard to believe right? Even though we have only seen these majestic vehicles in sci-fi and animated films (The Jetsons, anyone?) we finally are entering into an age when flying cars do seem like reality. The Farnborough Airshow 2018 saw many concepts being showcased. The most prominent among them being the Aston Martin hybrid electric flying vehicle concept and the Rolls Royce flying taxi  and more. Uber has already unveiled its plan for developing its own self-driven flying taxi as well. But we are getting too far into the future. Here’s a look at what’s been cooking in this space, since 1917. 1) Curtiss Autoplane (1917) [caption id=“attachment_4776841” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] The first attempt to build a “roadable aircraft” had already begun in 1917. The autoplane was built by Glenn Curtiss which was known as the “limousine of the air”. It is said that it did lift off the ground, but unfortunately never achieved full flight. Curtiss Autoplane. Image: Wikipedia[/caption] 2) Jess Dixon (1941) [caption id=“attachment_4777301” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] Jason Dixon was one super cool chap from Andalusia. He was tired of being caught up in the daily traffic so he just didn’t design an auto-plane for himself, he also built and drove uhm.. flew his own novel flying machine. Jess Dixon 1941. Image: Florida Memory[/caption] 3) Convaircar Model 118 (1946) [caption id=“attachment_4777911” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] The Convaircar Model had a few successful flights before it got canned. It had two prototypes. The first one suffered a minor accident because of fuel shortage and the second prototype resulted in the death of the driver/pilot. Convair Car model 118. Image: Wordpress[/caption] 4) Ford Volante (1958) [caption id=“attachment_4777371” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] As taking out your aero-car for buying groceries doesn’t seem like distant future anymore, Ford’s research designers in 1958 developed a 3/8 scale model to show how such a vehicle might look. Ford Volante. Image: Car Styling[/caption] 5) Curtiss Wright VZ-7 (1958) [caption id=“attachment_4777381” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] This was developed in response to an Army Transportation corp requirement for a ‘flying jeep’. It had an extremely simple design, but it didn’t meet up with the Army’s altitude and speed requirements. Curtiss Wright VZ 7. Image: Aviastar[/caption] 6) Piasecki V2-8 Airgeep (1962) [caption id=“attachment_4777401” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] Frank Piasecki built the VZ-8 for the US Army and it was to be a VTOL (Vertical take-off and landing) vehicle. It was supposed to operate at low altitudes and deliver atomic weapons. Piasecki AirGeep[/caption] 7) Moulton Taylor’s Aerocar (1966) [caption id=“attachment_4777411” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] Moulton Taylor loved to recount his stories about the plane. One of the most popular ones is that he once got a speeding ticket while driving the Aerocar to an auto show. Moulton Taylor Aero car. Image: Getty images[/caption] 8) Ave Mizar (1971) [caption id=“attachment_4777421” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] The makers of this Autocar cut up a Cessna Skymaster and a Ford Pinto and fitted them together and voila! They had a baby Ave Mizar. Ave Mizar. Image: History Lesions[/caption] 9) Butterfly Super Sky Cycle (2009) [caption id=“attachment_4777451” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] “There’s nothing else like it, a gyroplane that can fly at freeway speeds, land in 20 feet, be driven home as a motorcycle, and fit in your garage,” says Larry Neal, inventor of the flying cycle. Butterfly Super Sky Cycle. Image: Carsbase[/caption] 10) Terrafugia Transition (2009-12) [caption id=“attachment_4777461” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] Even though this looks somewhat like it has just walked out an animated cartoon movie, it’ll go 100 miles per hour and cruise 400 miles.  Also, the company says that the production version is going to be available from next year. Terrafugia Transition[/caption] 11) Skyrunner (2016) [caption id=“attachment_4777501” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] This just looks like one of the vehicles that are can be used in a James Bond movie, if it has been fused with Up! The company states that the aerocar is a certified special light-sport aircraft (S-LSA) but also is a rugged_,_ military-grade all-terrain vehicle. Skyrunner. Image: Fly Skyrunner[/caption] 12) Pal V (2017) [caption id=“attachment_4777511” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] “A car that flies. A plane that drives” says the company. They plan to give out the keys of the aero-car to their owners by 2020. Pal V.[/caption] 13) Cora Aero (2017) [caption id=“attachment_4777571” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] A lot of companies now feel that we belong in the sky, like sky travel, but it’s still a fantasy. Cora has been working since 2010 to make this into reality. Cora[/caption] 14) Lilium (2017) [caption id=“attachment_4777611” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] The company says that it’s the world’s first electric vertical take-off and landing jet. Also, the air taxi can carry up to 5 passengers. The Lilium Jet. Image: Lilium[/caption] 15) Aeromobile (2017) [caption id=“attachment_4777641” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] AeroMobil has taken a step ahead and made two different models. AeroMobil 4.0 STOL. Image: AeroMobil[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_4777661” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] The AeroMobil 4.0 is said to have a commercial launch in 2020 and AeroMobil 5.0 is expected to launch in 2025. AeroMobil 5.0 VTOL. Image: AeroMobil[/caption] 16) Velocopter (2018) [caption id=“attachment_4777701” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] That is one huge fan on the top of that air taxi! The company aspires to integrate air taxis into existing transportation systems and provides mobility for up to 10,000 passengers per day with a single point to point connection. Volocopter.[/caption] 17) Ehang 184 (2018) [caption id=“attachment_4777721” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] Not only do these passenger carrying drones look extremely impressive, but the 184 is also designed to work only on green technology and will be powered by electricity only. Ehang 184. Image: Ehang[/caption] 18) Airbus Vahana (2018) [caption id=“attachment_4777731” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] Vahana is an all electric, self-piloted, VTOL aircraft from A³ by Airbus which has successfully completed its first full-scale flight test, reaching a height of 5 meters (16 feet) before descending safely. Vahana. Image: Airbus[/caption] 19) Aston Martin (2018) [caption id=“attachment_4777741” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] Aston Martin is also gearing up to charm the airspace with an aero-car which is said to have room for three adults, is for urban and inter-city air travel to lead a congestion-free travel. Aston Martin Volante Vision Concept. Image: Aston Martin[/caption] 20) Uber Elevate (2020) [caption id=“attachment_4777751” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] Uber is planning to bring uberAIR to three cities which are Dallas, Los Angeles and an international city as a third partner. It aims to begin commercial operations by 2023. Elevate. Image: Uber[/caption]