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Air cars will never fly (911 more reasons)
Almost five years ago I started a thread critiquing the technological
and aesthetic problems associated with air cars, i.e. millions of people duking it out in small aircraft instead of automobiles. See: http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=e...l+never+fly%22 It was based on this man's (and other technophiles') naive, unworkable vision of air cars replacing most ground traffic. http://www.houstonspacesociety.org/whynotfly.htm Back then, I was surprised to see so many defenders of this insanely complex, unsafe, environmentally disruptive nightmare, but I think today's new world has put the final nail in the coffin. I hope the latest reason goes without saying! See subject line. A.J. ORIGINAL POST Subject: Air cars will never fly 12-13-98 (sci.space.policy) The article on the link below epitomizes the deluded "vision" of many in the space-colonization movement. If the author thinks air-cars are practical it's no wonder he thinks space-colonization as a means to keep society sustainable is feasible too (see other links on the site.) http://www.houstonspacesociety.org/whynotfly.htm Here are some obvious reasons why the air-car concept will never fly: 1) It takes FAR more energy to keep something in the air vs. on the ground, where no energy must be expended to lift its mass. In the article the author claims that guv'mint fuel regulations inspired him to think of the air-car concept, but he is completely deluded. He yearns for transportation that would create energy nightmares on a much larger scale. 2) Accidents happen often enough with earthbound vehicles restricted to lanes. If we expand transportation into the air, millions of vehicles will have to dodge each other with no lane boundaries and a third dimension as well. It would be complete mayhem. Driving skill is poor enough as it is, and most accidents would probably be fatal. Who would trust a naive 16, 18 or 21 year-old to fly and jeopardize everyone's safety? What about the elderly or infirm who can barely keep a car on the pavement? Even top pilots have to concentrate hard to maneuver aircraft in congested situations. 3) When a mechanical breakdown occurs with an earthbound vehicle it often just rolls to a stop, out of harm's way. But a breakdown in a airborne vehicle would result is serious danger to anyone in the area. Controlling air-cars with computers to prevent accidents makes no sense since it negates the very freedom they are supposed to offer, plus computer systems fail, and would inevitably cause tragedies in a sky packed with cars. 4) Environmentally speaking (and this is where the author is really nuts, since he was partially inspired by a desire for fewer roads) air-cars would be a visual and auditory nightmare. With no clear lanes we would have vehicles buzzing all over the place, ruining peace and quiet and disrupting areas that were formerly safe from roads of any kind. Wildlife would be routinely scared and you couldn't go anywhere (or even sleep at night) for fear of a joyrider slamming into you. It would be like opening the entire planet to airborne jet-skis. 5) There are close to 200 million cars and trucks in use in America today, and to replace even a fraction of these with air-cars would be completely impractical for many reasons (cost alone would be staggering). One big issue is our dependence on trucks of all sizes for hauling freight, which would be impractical in high speed flying vehicles. The author claims that air-cars would allow us to tear up paved routes that spoil natural scenery, but this would prevent the movement of vital freight everywhere; totally unworkable. Tearing up roads would be impossibly expensive and it would just leave erosion scars. 6) Navigation in an air car would be a nightmare since it can be hard enough to reach a destination with defined roads and street markings. How would people know where they were, especially at night? How would people park as well? Unless some magic anti-gravity propulsion is developed we would be subject to annoying air-blasts every time someone pulled into a Wal-Mart. The takeoff scenario after a major crowd event would be a hopeless maze of flying objects as everyone tried to leave first. The author is a Libertarian who detests regulations, but air-cars would demand more regulations than he could ever imagine. If anyone thinks air-cars would be remotely practical (except as toys for the wealthy) I'd like to see your arguments. A.J. (reposted from 12-13-1998) |
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wrote in message
... Almost five years ago I started a thread critiquing the technological and aesthetic problems associated with air cars [...] Back then, I was surprised to see so many defenders of this insanely complex, unsafe, environmentally disruptive nightmare, but I think today's new world has put the final nail in the coffin. You came back five years later just to say "I told you so"? Not that I believe you really had that many people disagreeing with you anyway. Not in the rec.aviation.piloting newsgroup. But doesn't your post strike you as just a little petty? Pete |
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"Gilles KERMARC" wrote in message news:bl4u58$ng1$1@news- 6) Navigation in an air car would be a nightmare since it can be hard enough to reach a destination with defined roads and street markings. How would people know where they were, especially at night? Heard about the GPS ? GPS is not an accepted form of primary instrument natigation, is it? Plus...how would we hit raccoons and possum?! -c |
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well as the old saying goes never say never.
History has proven many things happened that were said would never. We will probably be long dead in the ground but some form of air car will someday exist and that is for sure. -- Mitchell Wing http://www.mitchellwing.com Have a good day and stay out of the trees! See ya on Sport Aircraft group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sport_Aircraft/ |
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On Sat, 27 Sep 2003 23:06:51 +0200, Gilles KERMARC
wrote: wrote: 6) Navigation in an air car would be a nightmare since it can be hard enough to reach a destination with defined roads and street markings. How would people know where they were, especially at night? Heard about the GPS ? GPS was covered in some detail in the original 1998 thread. GPS just isn't accurate or reliable enough for a lot of fast-moving objects in a crowded space. I've used a GPS handheld extensively and would not bet my life on its resolution of 14 feet, or even 1 foot if such accuracy was possible for the public. Besides, GPS is just one of many flaws in the concept. A.J. |
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On Sun, 28 Sep 2003 04:32:04 GMT, "Gilan" wrote:
well as the old saying goes never say never. History has proven many things happened that were said would never. We will probably be long dead in the ground but some form of air car will someday exist and that is for sure. It already does, but it's not going anywhe http://www.moller.com/ I could envision something (for light duty) that hovers near the ground using some sort of antigravity, but I don't want congestion shoved into the air creating eyesores and hazards far greater than today's ground traffic. A.J. |
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("Peter Duniho" wrote)
snip You came back five years later just to say "I told you so"? Seven years is the statute of limitations on *I told you so's* ...anything after that falls under the asperses of unearthing repressed memories. -- Montblack |
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Most of the crap charges levied against air cars (not safe disruptive,
unsightly, eco adverse, security risk ala 9-11) are the same charges levels against automobiles by people who hate the fact that the auto underpins a real expansion of the freedoms and horizons of the common folk. If air cars happen they will grow slowly and an appropriate system of checks and balances will emerge. Until then ponder this... Air cars, when operational, shall be no less safe that any other mode of transport. Ships sink. Cars and planes crash. Trains derail. Balloons pop. Amish people get kicked, bit and thrown by their horses. All of these things can be fatal. If they scare you exercise you individual right not to use them. Do not deprive the rest of us of freedom in order to satisfy your cravings. Unsightly is a personal opinion. Everybody has there own opinions. Environmentalism is an ideology on par with Nazism. It deserves no comment. Security is an issue only if we let become one. Technology gives more as many advantages as disadvantages, and real security is rather simple. If armed air marshals were available on 9-11 the towers would still be there. |
#10
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"Montblack" wrote:
...asperses... Merriam Webster let me down on this one. |
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