[codex]

Yikes, what a death trap. This monstrosity combines the unreliability of a car with the dangers of a small aircraft.

Cars are not as reliable as aircraft because they're not maintained as well, and the operators are far less disciplined.

It is generally accepted that small aircraft aviation is generally 10x less safe than driving on both a passenger-mile and per-trip basis. And most small aircraft are flown for recreation, not transportation. When you fly for transportation there is a need to get from point A to point B on some reasonable schedule, which pressures the pilot to take all kinds of risks with weather, maintenance, etc. And that's for a rigorously licensed pilot. I doubt that the pilots that fly this thing will be up to the quality of even your average Cessna pilot.

Combine these two factors, and you have a flying coffin. I would not be comfortable living within even a hundred miles of one of these.

[jaysonelliot]

I'm amazed by the "It'll never work" attitudes of people sometimes.

I suppose there's a good feeling that comes from pointing out perceived flaws and problems in things, or from treating emerging inventions as though they were fully commercialized products.

I can only imagine what erstwhile tech forums would have read like if they'd been around when Edison was churning out ideas at Menlo Park, or if there had been internet commenters looking over Marconi's shoulder, or Bell's.

[codex]

I think flying cars will eventually be commonplace, but when they are they will be piloted by AIs.

[godDLL]

I still think voice communication is a great idea, and mobile phones are failing hard at it. It's not about the quality of the call even, it's about the way people handle reachability, distraction and personal space.

[aphx]

"Generally accepted" by whom? In General Aviation (think 4-seat "Cessnas" as opposed to commercial/airlines), you are far less likely to be involved in an accident than if you are driving a car. But GA accidents are likely to be much worse than auto accidents.

Auto drivers take the same kind of weather and maintenance risks when trying to conform to a schedule (when is the last time you went over 55mph on the 101 in the rain to catch a flight?). GxP for pilot training and cockpit management implore a "Safety First" approach, but it all still comes down to pilot decision making (which must be distinguished from "licensing rigor").

"Motorcycle with a parachute" is a pretty good way to describe this (although really it's a dune-buggy with a parachute--it has a roll cage and seatbelts). Looks less dangerous than a fixed-wing aircraft for the pilot and passengers (parachute landing at very slow speeds). Certainly less dangerous for the human and other "obstacles." So, low risk to you (less than your neighbor's SUV, for sure).

[tga]

Think about it as a flying motorcycle. It trades safety for more mobility and lots of fun.

[DougLeppard]

BTW they have an option that takes off the front two wheels and add a single wheel in front to make it a motorcycle (tricycle) it solves California regulations.

[techiferous]

As mentioned in the video, this would be a lifesaver for people who live hundreds of miles from the nearest doctor.

[timc3]

Thats what people used to say about the Bicycle.