Have you seen this one?

http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzzlog/93804?fp=1


Scott Gettings

From the looks of the elevator... take off speed,
cruise speed and landing speed are all the same :)

An airplane needs to fly at 200 MPH or more to be useful
as a cross country vehicle. Anything below that and
you might as well drive. $200,000 for a light
sport aircraft makes no sense.

Paul Lamar


A good journalist would have researched and found
Molt Taylor had done almost as well 60 years ago!

David James
Here's my take on the "roadable airplane" and why the concept
itself is flawed.  Anyone ever come out to a parking lot to find
their car dented, scratched, bumped and or otherwise different
from when they left it?  Given that this is a certified
aircraft, one now must find an A&P to inspect and repair.  Even
in an experimental, a good ding on a control surface, one would
want to look inside for hidden damage, as you weren't there to
witness the event causing the damage.  A certified aircraft just
isn't the kind of thing I would want exposed to the general
population, parked next to Joes bar & grill.  Every fender
bender will ground you, and cost you.  I'll fly to the airport,
and rent a car.  Cheaper and the risk benefit ratio is a no
brainer.  I can't imagine what the insurance will be on these
things, but the underwriter will learn in a hurry just where the
rates will bring returns, not just red ink.  Your results may
vary.


C. Smith


Personally, I'd prefer an autogyro with jump takeoff
capability.  Powered by a rotary engine, of course!
Driving to an airfield anywhere near a city during
"busy time" is a big piece of the battle, even with
a "flying car".  So jump off from your driveway and
avoid the hassle.
 Given point to point flights, I suspect sub-100mile
trips would be much faster even with a 100mph aircraft.

Craig


I agree some sort of VTOL is highly desirably.
http://www.rotaryeng.net/VTOL.html

Lacking that this is what the flying car people will have
to put up with for short trips. You must drive to an airport
to take off. It takes a half an hour to get in the air minimum
after you get to the airport. Preflight, taxi hold, short etc..
Unless of course you have an  airport in your back yard.

You must also land at an airport that may not
be near your destination. So more driving perhaps
in the opposite direction.

While driving a car you can go direct with no back
tracking.

I also have a flying motor cycle design.
http://www.rotaryeng.net/roadable.html

The answer is a V22 or something like it.

Paul Lamar

You blokes have obviously not driven on Aust roads  !!!
Neil.

I have. I drove the coast road from Melbourne to Adelaide
a year ago February. Then from Perth to Albany along the
coast and back to Perth. Then from Perth to Bindoon and back
and a lot of driving around in the Perth area.

I few years ago I drove from Brisbane to Sydney.

I do agree the freeways in Australia  are not as prevalent
as they are here. Also the speed limits are much lower
as here we can average 80 MPH for a several hours.

Australia is the ideal place for a light plane.
Especially in the outback where the roads are dirt
for the most part. Robin and I rented a C172 from Redhill
a few years back and flew all over the eastern out back
and out to Brampton Island.

Paul Lamar