Another problem with flying cars, besides cost and energy (fuel) useage being inherently greater then automobiles, is the complexity of piloting.

If a train (one dimensional) only take stop, go and speed, cars (2 dimensions) take that and left/straight/right, i.e square the complexity. Flying is not three, but four dimensions. It is, in this analogy, the fourth power of complexity.

The third dimension, height, is obvious. Less obvious is energy. Flying is an exercise in energy management. If all you do is push down on the stick, you will go down…..fast. And then a landing is impossible, you will either float over the runway, or crash into it….not a landing by my instructor’s definition.

Anyone who was lucky enough to see the airshow demonstrations of the great Bob Hoover will have a bit of an understanding of the energy management aspect. Look him up on Wikipedia if you don’t know who he is. The video is great.

So unless totally automated (yawn), Piloting is a much more demanding skill than driving a car.

And look how many people insist on talking on cell phones, eating, etc while driving a car. Would you really want them all flying over your house? Some of them seem to need even driving automated……