Hooniverse Asks- What's the World's Greatest Actual Flying Car?

Robert Emslie

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Whitehouse-flying Car

So, I’ve met George Jetson. I am also acquainted with: his boy Elroy, midriff-bearing daughter Judy, and Jane, his wife. And while the tribulations of their future lives seem remarkably indistinguishable from those of our current era – over-worked, over stressed, still no cure for baldness – the one thing that makes me pine for their future projected lives is the fact that they get flying cars. Perhaps it’s all the sitting in traffic that does it. Or, maybe it’s the prospect of cruising over the Playboy Mansion on the way home that holds the appeal. Whatever it is, I want a car that does double duty as a flying machine. And it better look cool too.

Now, I remember reading a test in Cycle magazine of what was then called a dual-purpose bike. It was a Honda,all knobby tires and lots of suspension travel mated with lights and turn signals and everything else the Gubnint says you got to have to roll on the road. While the bike was intended to serve two masters, that of the off-road gods and those who ruled the macadam, what I remember distinctly is that Cycle averred the compromises necessary to allow such dual piety made the bike sadly incompetent at either.

That of course would’t be the case with a flying car because, well, FLYING CAR! I mean how cool would that be? Obviously cool enough that over the past 60 years or so a number of inventors have tried to come up with that elusive mix of road-worthiness and coffee, tea or me-ness. What I want to know from you is which one of those flying cars do you think is the most awesome?

Image source: The Blade

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Robert Emslie

Robert Emslie

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71 responses to “Hooniverse Asks- What's the World's Greatest Actual Flying Car?”

  1. OA5599 Avatar
    OA5599

    [youtube ouHkL7u9qLw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouHkL7u9qLw youtube]

    Reply
  2. BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ Avatar
    BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ

    The company that has actually flying one; the PALV – One
    <img src="http://impressivemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/palv.png"&gt;

    Reply
    1. BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ Avatar
      BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ

      [youtube CajAq6ndJYE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CajAq6ndJYE youtube]

      Reply
  3. Vavon Avatar
    Vavon

    <img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4092/5039486353_c3d7b5df9f_z.jpg"&gt;
    I think I'm doing it wrong…

    Reply
    1. muthalovin Avatar
      muthalovin

      What say we hijack this thread?
      <img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/f6f0f12e863c7ab064e9cdbe165a43cf/tumblr_mkqvc3WvfI1rvoixgo1_500.jpg"&gt;

      Reply
      1. Dean Bigglesworth Avatar
        Dean Bigglesworth

        Wheee!
        <img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x3kR7QRQA0s/TB5pJPzgjBI/AAAAAAAADuc/7ypQzKXsYDg/s1600/04-jump.jpg&quot; width="600" </img>

        Reply
        1. muthalovin Avatar
          muthalovin

          So. Much. Air.
          <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/b7bf599b6ff518a95a3343597752c8eb/tumblr_mj24ov5SXe1qiuoc0o1_500.gif"&gt;

          Reply
          1. Sjalabais Avatar
            Sjalabais

            Guys, flying cars are supposed to be usable every day. Getting groceries, seating five. And being a Volvo, obviously.
            <img src="http://williamgrady.com/storage/volvo/1985_volvo_740_Fly_large.jpg&quot; width="600">

          2. muthalovin Avatar
            muthalovin

            And dont forget about doing truck stuff.
            <img src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQCJU0C61l0PkZL8qKqtqV6vy8TzuARBTb0tu31QJ9KJbXYF_EBFg&quot; width=550>
            Also, have a good plan for landing.
            <img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p48mRqySef0/URAMOV7mnPI/AAAAAAAAbf4/qMOExSJ6y-M/s1600/1.gif&quot; width=550>

          3. Dean Bigglesworth Avatar
            Dean Bigglesworth

            Inside view from jumping Raptor..
            [youtube bne79lynlK4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bne79lynlK4 youtube]

          4. Devin Avatar
            Devin

            Did somebody say Volvo?
            <img src="http://images.hemmings.com/wp-content/uploads//2009/06/GA-hoppar.JPG"&gt;

      2. Sjalabais Avatar
        Sjalabais

        Shedding unnecessary weight is essential in the flying car business. Heavy rubber be damned.

        Reply
    2. OA5599 Avatar
      OA5599

      <img src="http://forum.streetlegaltv.com/photos/data/506/fgeneral_lee_jump.jpg&quot; width=500>

      Reply
      1. schigleymischke Avatar
        schigleymischke

        Look away, look away, Dixie land!

        Reply
      2. P161911 Avatar
        P161911

        <img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9atdIqJkd6o/T5A33g2MshI/AAAAAAAAAEg/ByLGyuksByo/s1600/satb+pic+2.jpg"width=500&gt;

        Reply
    3. muthalovin Avatar
      muthalovin

      <img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2guag0Wq91qdcd2wo1_500.jpg"&gt;
      I bet 911s have a funky dynamic when they are in the air, compared to front engined cars.

      Reply
      1. danleym Avatar
        danleym

        I'd imagine they're better- that they wouldn't nose over as quickly.

        Reply
      2. Dean Bigglesworth Avatar
        Dean Bigglesworth

        I love this picture
        <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Jumping_911_Carrera_RS_2.7_in_Pinggau_(Bosch_Rallye_2010).jpg" width="600" </img>

        Reply
        1. muthalovin Avatar
          muthalovin

          I must go, Porsche Planet needs me.

          Reply
    4. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      <img src="http://www.autotrend.com/atg/graphics/00000001/p655.jpg&quot; width="500/">

      Reply
    5. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      <img src="http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i61/FullCanvas/AlfaRomeo-T33StommelenNurburg1972.jpg"width=500&gt;

      Reply
    6. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
      Irishzombieman☆

      [youtube 3zKSs2vH01Q http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zKSs2vH01Q youtube]

      Reply
      1. Dean Bigglesworth Avatar
        Dean Bigglesworth

        That looks incredibly fun. Also stupid dangerous. So here's some Volvos.
        [youtube IDAv2-T4hXQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDAv2-T4hXQ youtube]

        Reply
        1. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
          Irishzombieman☆

          Nice!
          Waaaay back in the 80s, when the 7 series first appeared, they had a TV ad where they drove on off the 2nd floor of a parking garage. It dove into the ground, slid along on on it's nose a bit, then flopped down onto its wheels. Nothing behind the front fenders was messed up. My first impressions of Volvos, and man, did it make a lasting impression on me.
          I've been looking for that video for five years and counting.

          Reply
          1. Dean Bigglesworth Avatar
            Dean Bigglesworth

            I'm sure I've seen the video. It may be on the VHS-tape i about Volvo history I have somewhere…
            No wait I think I found it.
            [youtube 0huyp4Hsfig http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0huyp4Hsfig youtube]

          2. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
            Irishzombieman☆

            You have no idea how happy you just made me.

      2. Dean Bigglesworth Avatar
        Dean Bigglesworth

        [youtube kQhKUj6rE24 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQhKUj6rE24 youtube]

        Reply
      3. Vavon Avatar
        Vavon

        [youtube _crqhU-fWYg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_crqhU-fWYg youtube]

        Reply
    7. pj134 Avatar
      pj134

      It looks so happy!
      <img src="http://www.racingexposure.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/IMG_3696.jpg&quot; width=500>

      Reply
    8. muthalovin Avatar
      muthalovin

      Flying cars are for wimps.
      <img src="http://rideapart.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/GM-TT-THURS-TAS-980PX-660×4401.jpeg&quot; width=550>

      Reply
      1. Number_Six Avatar
        Number_Six

        This guy thought he could just climb off when he realized he forgot his wallet:
        <img src="http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b28/striker1362/Cadwell%20Park%2013th%20May/Pic1.jpg&quot; width="500" />

        Reply
        1. muthalovin Avatar
          muthalovin

          Motorcycles are hard.
          Also, the flying is easy, the landing is a bit more difficult.
          <img src="http://i.imgur.com/ZJLS6BW.gif"&gt;
          Exemplified here by my friend Bubba:
          <img src="http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj485/madmacmo/dirt_bike_ramp_jump_on_fire_goes_wrong_zps12d343b9.gif"&gt;

          Reply
          1. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
            Irishzombieman☆

            I've seen the first and loved it.
            I've never seen the second before now, and it's about 20 different kinds of horrible and hilarious. I can't stop watching it. Wow! Falling 40 feet while on fire! And intentionally!
            My nuts shrink up into my abdomen every time he hits.

          2. muthalovin Avatar
            muthalovin

            I have been lightly giggling at my desk for the past 40 minutes watching these both.

          3. Tim Odell Avatar
            Tim Odell

            I have a dream a lot like that 1st one.
            Maybe halfway between dream and nightmare, I guess.

        2. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
          Irishzombieman☆

          Damn it! This isn't my hoverboard!
          <img src="http://www.motorcycledirectory.co.uk/photos/files/images/437.jpg&quot; width=400>

          Reply
          1. Vairship Avatar
            Vairship

            <img src="http://a2.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/91/eea8bcb6c14c4aa786621cf8e366f504/l.jpg&quot; width="600">

    9. ˏ♂ˊ mzs zsm msz esq Avatar
      ˏ♂ˊ mzs zsm msz esq

      <img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i0NH3dXIHB4/UZuGIDYTPmI/AAAAAAAAEyg/xvXIP01oEjI/s400/tumblr_mjetqzBeNt1rpqn0wo2_400%255B1%255D.gif"&gt; The consensus is Volvo wins again. Thanks again Wooter!

      Reply
  4. muthalovin Avatar
    muthalovin

    <img src="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/flying_cars.png&quot; width=600>

    Reply
  5. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    AMC Matador of course.
    <img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DyaBko9J2a0/UQSjGPWbYoI/AAAAAAAAgVg/GUvxmu0_Pfc/s1600/AMC+Matador+flying+car+The+Man+with+the+Golden+Gun+in+flight.jpg"width=500&gt;

    Reply
    1. Sjalabais Avatar
      Sjalabais

      I always though the Matador had weird proportions.

      Reply
  6. $kaycog Avatar
    $kaycog

    The Moller Skycar prototype.
    <img src="http://psipunk.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/flying-car-moller-skycar-m400-01.jpg"width="500"/&gt;

    Reply
    1. Rover1 Avatar
      Rover1

      So it's not just a moneymaking scam?

      Reply
      1. Rover1 Avatar
        Rover1

        Apparently not…… .http://moller.com/dev/

        Reply
  7. Number_Six Avatar
    Number_Six

    Mark Webber's Mercedes CLR
    <img src="http://www.mulsannescorner.com/CLRflip2.jpg&quot; width="500" />

    Reply
    1. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      [youtube b31O4FmljGY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b31O4FmljGY youtube]
      Porsche GT1 was able to stick the landing.

      Reply
    2. OA5599 Avatar
      OA5599

      Flipping doesn't count as flying, otherwise anything not HCOTY is disqualified.
      <img src="http://media.caranddriver.com/images/media/461504/the-zombee-mgb-rolled-over-at-thunderhill-in-2009-the-car-was-nearly-obliterated-but-captain-pete-beat-it-back-into-something-vaguely-resembling-a-british-sports-car-legend-killer-zombees-photo-461578-s-1280×782.jpg&quot; width=500>

      Reply
      1. danleym Avatar
        danleym

        I've done a similar sort of flying in an 88 Honda Civic. I don't recommend it.

        Reply
      2. Rover1 Avatar
        Rover1

        Hmmph, everyone knows that Bees can fly even though the laws of physics prohibit it ! 🙂

        Reply
    3. dr zero Avatar
      dr zero

      What about his Redbull?
      <img src="http://bartoszcze.blox.pl/resource/webber_valencia.jpg"&gt;

      Reply
  8. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
    Irishzombieman☆

    I'll tell you which one wasn't. The AVE Mizar. It was a Ford Pinto strapped to the flying gear of a Cessna Skymaster. What was most surprising about it was that it actually worked.
    Until it didn't. One fateful day in 1973, the flying car suddenly became just a car again, several hundred feet above it's normal car environment. Which is also the normal environment for a horse, after which the Pinto was named.
    Alas, the designer should've used a Falcon.
    <img src="http://www.transeum.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/ave-mizar.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  9. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    I'll just leave this here.[youtube Rug4jaPczls http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rug4jaPczls youtube]

    Reply
    1. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
      Irishzombieman☆

      Eah, God, that makes my back hurt just looking at it.

      Reply
      1. P161911 Avatar
        P161911

        My wife's grandfather worked at the GM Lakewood plant during WWII. He said his job was to go out and try to break the trucks they were building. I think he did a lot of similar stuff, but probably with GM trucks of some sort.

        Reply
        1. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
          Irishzombieman☆

          . . . and he lived the rest of his life in a wheelchair.
          (will feel really horrible if he did)

          Reply
          1. P161911 Avatar
            P161911

            Nope, still getting around fine. It took me several years to figure out why he didn't serve in the armed forces during WWII. He lied about his age and started working at GM when he was 16 or 17 (around 1941). By the time the draft got going big time he was deemed an essential defence contractor employee. He spent World War II hooning whatever GM was building at the Lakewood, GA (Atlanta) plant.

          2. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
            Irishzombieman☆

            That's pretty awesome. Did they build any tanks? Because that would make it awesomer.

  10. $kaycog Avatar
    $kaycog

    I can fly too.
    <img src="http://depooh.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Cape-Ring-Periphery_1.jpg"width="500"/&gt;

    Reply
  11. vwminispeedster Avatar
    vwminispeedster

    Don't know about best flying car but I know of the greatest road racing plane….. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtWoTBS3zEw

    Reply
  12. miki Avatar
    miki

    Pff, amateurs.
    <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/AntonovA40.jpg&quot; width="600">

    Reply
  13. LTDScott Avatar
    LTDScott

    In Soviet Russia….
    <img src="http://blog.caranddriver.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/03-24-Hours-of-LeMons-Southern-Discomfort-2013-Saturday-Leaders-626×426.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
    1. curlypaul924 Avatar
      curlypaul924

      Actually that's South Carolina, but I can see why you'd get the two confused… 🙂

      Reply
    2. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
      Irishzombieman☆

      Terribly funny that the car behind it has an actual wing section on its roof.

      Reply
  14. jeepjeff Avatar
    jeepjeff

    I'll just leave this here:
    <img src="http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n158/greg4656/WW2/the-flying-jeep.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  15. BlackIce_GTS Avatar
    BlackIce_GTS

    <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/Avrocar_2.jpg/595px-Avrocar_2.jpg"&gt;
    The contribution of Martian immigrants to Canada's history is often overlooked.

    Reply
    1. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
      Irishzombieman☆

      I really wish that thing had worked.

      Reply
  16. BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ Avatar
    BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ

    Ofcourse there's only one right answer.
    <img src="http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/jetsons.jpg&quot; width="600">

    Reply
  17. Lotte Avatar
    Lotte

    Ford Fusion! Wait…
    <img src="http://stwot.motortrend.com/files/2012/11/2013-Ford-Fusion-jump-623×389.jpg&quot; width="500/">
    "You lied to me."

    Reply
    1. Vairship Avatar
      Vairship

      "Cars cannot fly". Well, that's a lie of course. Sure, their glide slope ratio might not be great, but they'd fly somewhat if you kept it at just the right pitch angle!

      Reply
  18. schigleymischke Avatar
    schigleymischke

    http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2017062404/b-…
    [youtube PJMQQg_Qmf0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJMQQg_Qmf0 youtube]

    Reply
    1. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
      Irishzombieman☆

      That is really neat.

      Reply