FUTURE FLYING CARS : WHAT WOULD THEY LOOK LIKE

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, no it’s a flying car! How many times have you been stuck in a traffic jam and wished you had a flying car like Harry Potter? Experts have been working for years to come up with such a vehicle. Times Trends showcases some designs and prototypes in the works



GEN H-4


Inspired by the designs of Leonardo Da Vinci, GEN H-4 is the world’s smallest helicopter. The 75kg helicopter — with rotors, a chair, footrest and handle bar — can ascend up to 165 yards


THE CARTER COPTER




It’s a mix of a plane and a helicopter. The CarterCopter concept is a gyrocopter with an unusually stiff, heavy rotor, supplemented with conventional wings. At low speed, the vehicle flies as a gyrocopter, and can take off and land vertically. At high speed, it flies like a jet, using the fixed wings


MILNER MOTORS AIRCAR

Yes, it’s a scooter that flies. The basic concept of the AirScooter goes back to original Sikorsky rotorcraft helicopter concept, based on a coaxial design. To gain altitude, simply throttle up like you would on a bike


THE SPRINGTAIL




The Springtail Exoskeleton Flying Vehicle is a single operator powered-lift vehicle that supports the operator/pilot in a standing position. A pair of ducts containing a fan each produce vertical thrust. The ducts and fans tilt for pitch and yaw trim. It provides fast and efficient door-to-door travel options


THE SKYCAR




A cross between a Ferrari and the Batmobile, the Moller Skycar is a prototype personal VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) aircraft with four propellers. The craft will transport four people and will be operated completely by computer and guided by GPS satellites



HAMMERHEAD


It looks like an alien space ship, but this design could be the future. It has a three-fan configuration with two forward fans that tilt for both lift and thrust. Designer Jeff Allen Case claims he expects a top speed of 250mph at 8,000 ft. with a range of 300 miles. It both takes off and lands vertically and has a one-seater cockpit


CITY HAWK


The CityHawk prototype was tested in 2004 and able to carry 2 people, take off and land vertically, and was estimated to be able to stay aloft for close to one hour. Future CityHawks will be able to provide personal transportation, police patrol, and even be used for ambulance and evacuation missions