March 20: Not another flying car?

Since forever man has wanted to fly. More than anything he has wanted to be like a bird. He's dreamed about this for years. Never read about ancient man wanting to drive. No, nothing but wanting to soar like an eagle. So along comes Karl Benz and makes the first car. Now what does man think about? You got it, he wants his car to fly like a bird. Some dreams never die, although a few people have trying to make those dreams live.

I could spend the next month blogging about failed efforts to make the flying car dream come true, but ending up with a nightmare.

The flying car. Always a fun topic and quite enjoyable shooting holes in other peoples dreams, at least the car in the air ones. So last week at the Geneva show, what shows up, but the latest effort. Hey, these things get better all the time and this one might actually be a success, but those dreams of everyone buzzing thru the sky avoiding all the other winged marvels isn't something I'll see in my lifetime.

Behold the PAL-V Liberty..........

Priced a little higher than a new Rolls Phantom, but with none of that luxury brand's earth bound restraints. And when all your three friends want to go with you, pretty hard to turn them down with the Rolls. Not a problem with the PAL-V Liberty, as it only has room for one other high flyer. Got the money, then picture yourself sitting behind the wheel of this flying car........

This thing is more techie than The Donald's hair. Feeling nervous? Relax, since when you take delivery, you also get flying lessons, as you actually have to have a pilot's licence before you can leave the ground.

Leave your troubles behind you (or below you), as you soar over 10,000 feet (3500 metres) above the crowds at speeds up to 180 kph.

Your only care will be where to park when you land or maybe avoiding that Boeing 777 coming up behind you. Mere trifles when you are cruising in your very own PAL-V Liberty.

Going to the cottage? Your life is filled with choices, now that you are no longer tied to the ground......

Drive or fly, the possibilities are almost endless. No more traffic jam headaches, simply push a few buttons, rev those engines and away you go, not having to gas up until you are 500 kms away.......

And all along you thought the Dutch were only famous for their wooden shoes. Add another break through to your list of their accomplishments. But thanks to those Dutch dreams, what had seemed but a mere fantasy for many, many years now will be our new reality. A new reality, of course, if you have more money than Midas or have found pirate treasure. So laugh at those old magazine covers. They actually did see the future, although it might have taken longer than they thought......

And take it from me, it will take even longer.

Until next time......