Pal-v Flying Three Wheel Car - Awesome!

[Mel]

It's different, how does it work with no tail rotor?
Or is it a pusher gyrocopter?

Yes. It is a pusher gyroplane. No power on the rotor.

 

[Coss]

Someone should PM Sethodine with this link, he's into Gyrocopters

 

[Rickb]

If they offer a non-flying version as a high performance, enclosed cabin, narrow, tilting three wheeler commuter.......I'll take one. That would be my ultimate flytheroad vehicle.

 

[PA Car Guy]

Combine 2 complicated things and you get something that does 2 jobs poorly.

And nothing that flies cost less than $200,000

..not quite accurate, for example a ZENITH CH650 can be had for less than $100k, and a slightly used one for half that -

 

[Sethodine]

..not quite accurate, for example a ZENITH CH650 can be had for less than $100k, and a slightly used one for half that -

And you can build a kit plane for under $15,000.

As far as flying cars go, though, I think a better way to go might be the FanWing concept. The rotating wing provides both lift and thrust, STOL capability, and doesn't require ailerons. Furthermore, the tail fins are part of the wings. Basically, you got a motorized wing section that you can plop down onto just about any car frame and make it fly. And with a lifting ability of about 15kg per HP, an Elio could probably fly with a bolt-on kit!

FanWing LSA concept

How it works:

 

[skychief]

Keep in mind any vehicle capable of flight (weighing over 150 lbs) will require a PPL or SPL certificate to operate. Also, you can't [legally] take off or land on public roads. So the number of people this PAL-V vehicle will appeal to is very limited.

I might be interested in this thing if it were under $30k.

 

[Mel]

Keep in mind any vehicle capable of flight (weighing over 150 lbs) will require a PPL or SPL certificate to operate.

I think you mean "weighing over 254 lbs." See FAR part 103 (ultralight vehicles).

 

[Ekh]

And you can build a kit plane for under $15,000.

As far as flying cars go, though, I think a better way to go might be the FanWing concept. The rotating wing provides both lift and thrust, STOL capability, and doesn't require ailerons. Furthermore, the tail fins are part of the wings. Basically, you got a motorized wing section that you can plop down onto just about any car frame and make it fly. And with a lifting ability of about 15kg per HP, an Elio could probably fly with a bolt-on kit!

FanWing LSA concept

How it works:

Fly OK, maybe -- but it takes up 3 lanes minimum which will make it unpopular on the roads!

 

[CrimsonEclipse]

..not quite accurate, for example a ZENITH CH650 can be had for less than $100k, and a slightly used one for half that -

(some assembly required)

To compare apples to apples, let's keep it to certified, in production aircraft.

 

[Coss]

Fly OK, maybe -- but it takes up 3 lanes minimum which will make it unpopular on the roads!

Especially on a 2 lane road