Citycopter Concept Eliminates The Need For Flying Cars
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It’s no mystery that concept designs are almost always more exciting than the actual products that are eventually constructed, regardless of if we’re talking about cell phones or cinematic robots. But we as a humane society need to get started turning the Fly Citycopter into a real thing, with as little changes as possible. Except maybe a sweet paint job with some skulls and shit, and a bumper sticker that says, “I am the proud father of an honor roll student whose father has a personal helicopter.”
Designed by Eduardo Galvani, the Fly Citycopter probably isn’t the most realistic vehicle in the world, but it’s a much more exciting goal for auto makers to turn their sights to rather than the tired concept of a flying car. (Though if anyone made a commercial flying car anytime soon, I’d be all about that, too.) Galvani’s ideas offer up a tri-rotor design for comfortable and quiet maneuvering, along with auto-pilot and obstacle detection. I’m assuming it also comes with its own breathalyzer, because this could get people into a lot of trouble. I wonder if I could fit a bar in it…
Okay, so the propellers are too small for something of this size, but “bigger propellers” never scared anyone before, so let’s slap some on here. The copter is obviously also designed with environmental safety in mind, and it could conceivably make it 300 miles on a single charge, with a top speed of 120 mph. Should Tesla one day fill the country with charging stations for its electric vehicles, this could be one of the more viable (and presumably expensive) options for those sick of auto pollution and fuel waste. And it will be a lot cooler to say, “I’m going onto the helipad,” than saying, “I’m going to the garage.” Plus, it looks pretty awesome. Take a peek at some of the conceptual images below.
It’s interesting that helicopters are the vehicle of choice for brainy people to work with these days, like the human-powered copter and the toy version powered by brain waves. Are we finally catching up to the most prescient minds of the last century? I’m speaking of course about William Hanna and Joe Barbara, who gave us a vehicle that looked very similar to the Citycopter in The Jetsons. Whenever I can fit the thing I got to work in inside of my suitcase, I know I’m doing it right.
Check out some other ways that The Jetsons has led us to now.
