Podcast Summary
Recognizing Physical Progress Amidst Digital Innovations: Though digital advancements often grab headlines, significant progress has been made in the physical world, such as aviation technology, which is essential to acknowledge and appreciate.
Despite the lack of flying cars and other technological advancements we were promised as children, progress has not come to a standstill. While much innovation has occurred in the digital realm, there have also been significant advancements in the physical world that often go unnoticed. For instance, considering the safety and capabilities of early civilian planes compared to modern ones, it's clear that significant progress has been made in aviation technology. The focus on digital advancements may overshadow physical progress, but it's essential to recognize and appreciate the strides made in various industries. Join Craig Horlbeck, Danny Heifetz, and Danny Kelly on The Ringer Fantasy Football Show for more insightful discussions. And, for hiring needs, use Indeed to connect with candidates faster, and for presentations, Canva Presentations offers AI-powered tools to help create stunning visuals in seconds.
The history of flying cars and their pioneers: From early experiments to mid-century dreams, the history of flying cars showcases the intersection of aviation and automobile industries, with pioneers pushing boundaries to make the flying car a reality.
The idea of flying cars holds a significant symbolic power representing the gap between innovation in the physical and digital worlds. With roots dating back over a century, the history of flying cars is filled with pioneers like Juan de la Cieva and Waldo Waterman, who experimented with various flying contraptions that could somewhat resemble cars. However, the concept of flying cars was not as clear-cut as it seems today, as both aviation and automobile industries were still in their infancy during that era. The lack of a clear comparison point between cars and flying machines made the concept of a flying car less concrete. Despite the widespread assumption that flying cars don't exist, the history of this technology is rich and complex, filled with starts and stops, and a longing for making the mid-century dream of a flying car a reality in our transportation infrastructure.
The 1950s Push for Personal Flight: The 1950s marked a significant era for individualized flying, with veterans and repurposed military technology fueling the rise of personal airplanes. However, the concept of flying cars emerged, offering point-to-point transportation without airports or runways.
The 1950s saw a significant push towards individualized flying vehicles as part of the broader rise of general aviation. With veterans returning from the war having pilot training and aviation technology from military use being repurposed for commercial use, the idea of personal airplanes became increasingly popular. Cessna even advertised their small planes as "family cars of the air," suggesting that flying could be as common as driving. However, there was a distinct difference between personal airplanes and flying cars. Airplanes required an airport for takeoff and landing, while flying cars aimed for point-to-point transportation without the need for airports or runways. Despite this, the blurred lines between cars and airplanes during this era showcased the innovative spirit and curiosity of the time as people continued to explore the possibilities of personal flight.
Factors hindering flying cars: Regulation and societal fears around energy use have contributed to the lack of progress in creating mass flying personal vehicle industries
The dream of flying cars has not come to fruition due to a combination of factors, including regulatory challenges and societal fears around energy use. While regulation has played a role in hindering innovation in this space, it's essential to recognize that regulation is complex and multifaceted. The JSTOR's Hall argument, as presented in his book "Where's My Flying Car?", suggests that societal attitudes towards energy and fear of using it have also contributed to the lack of progress in creating mass flying personal vehicle industries. The history of flying cars is filled with ambition and innovation, but various challenges have prevented it from becoming a reality. Understanding the root causes of these challenges can help us better navigate the path towards future technological advancements.
Beyond simplistic narratives of regulatory stagnation: Regulatory factors have shaped certain technologies, but it's essential to examine complex realities and acknowledge shifts in understanding innovation in the physical world
While regulation has played a role in shaping the development of certain technologies, such as aviation, it's important to look beyond simplistic narratives and examine the complex realities of specific cases. For instance, the lack of flying cars and supersonic jets doesn't necessarily mean regulatory stagnation, but rather the outcompeting of individual aviation by commercial aviation due to factors like cost, safety, and reliability. Additionally, technological advancements in the last decade have brought about significant changes in the realm of flying personal vehicles, with investments in technology and business making a story written in 2014 vastly different from one written in 2024. It's crucial to acknowledge these shifts and reassess our understanding of innovation in the physical world.
The Electric Flying Aircraft Revolution: Electric flight offers advantages like increased precision, safety, redundancy, ease of maintenance, and is transforming aviation with companies like Pivotal leading the charge in eVTOL aircraft development.
The pursuit of energy efficiency and sustainability in aviation technology led to significant advancements in battery technologies and electric propulsion systems, which in turn enabled the development of electric flying aircraft. This shift started with the maturation of electric vehicle, drone, and electro-propulsion research around 15 years ago. The benefits of electric flight include increased precision, safety, redundancy, and ease of maintenance. Companies like Pivotal, founded by Marcus Lang, are leading the charge in this electric flying aircraft revolution. Pivotal, which is now run by Ken Kirkland, is working on developing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, aiming to make personal air travel a reality. Despite initial motivations rooted in energy efficiency, the end result is a new era of aviation that offers numerous advantages and is transforming the industry.
Joby Aviation's Historical First eVTOL Flight and Commercial Availability: Joby Aviation, founded in California, made history with the first manned eVTOL flight in 2017, received investment from Larry Page, and commercially launched their eVTOLs in 2021, requiring no formal pilot training but offering a 2-week bespoke training program.
Joby Aviation, a California-based company, made history with the first manned, electrical vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) flight, which later moved to Silicon Valley and received investment from Larry Page. Initially, the aircraft lacked redundancies and safety features, requiring years of refinement to meet FAA's 6 Sigma safety level. After decades of development, Joby made their eVTOLs commercially available in 2021, with no formal pilot training required due to Part 103 regulations. Despite this, customers undergo a 2-week bespoke training program. The reporter, who covered the story for over a year and a half, unexpectedly got the opportunity to fly one of these eVTOLs after receiving an investor's recommendation. Despite initial skepticism, the PR team arranged for a 4-day training program and eventual flight, with certain weight and gamer qualifications as prerequisites.
From GoldenEye to eVTOL simulator: Surprising gaming skills for flying: Gaming experience, though not required, can aid in eVTOL aircraft training due to quick skill acquisition. The simulator experience prepares trainees for the unique feeling of takeoff and transition to wing-borne flight, but the cognitive load is high due to potential life-or-death consequences.
Even if you don't have a gaming background, you can still learn to fly an eVTOL aircraft, but the cognitive load is high due to the potential life-or-death consequences. During his high school days, the speaker used to play GoldenEye but hadn't been a gamer since. He was surprised when asked about his gaming experience for a flying job since gamers tend to pick up new skills quickly. Despite his skepticism, he was given a chance to train and was amazed by the simulator experience. The Blackfly aircraft takes off like a rocket ship and transitions to wing-borne flight once it reaches around 40 feet. The simulator chair only tilts on one axis to prepare trainees for the feeling of pitching back almost 90 degrees. The speaker initially found flying in a simulated environment fun but experienced VR sickness. The training then shifted to a more rigorous curriculum, teaching proper takeoff, handling in the air, and landing. Although the controls were intuitive, the cognitive load was significant due to the potential danger of falling from the sky. The speaker acknowledged that even checking the battery or gas gauge in a car is a routine task, but the same task in an eVTOL aircraft could mean the difference between life and death.
First-hand account of flying a flying car: Flying cars offer an intoxicating experience, but safety regulations and careful implementation are crucial to minimize risks and maintain public trust.
The flying car industry is approaching the integration of flying cars into everyday life with caution due to the potential severe consequences of accidents. This is highlighted in a personal account of flying a flying car for the first time, where the speaker describes feeling terrified and the experience being incredibly different from simulated training. The risks involved are significant, as a small mistake could lead to a crash, resulting in negative publicity and a loss of trust in the technology. The speaker describes the experience as intoxicating once they were safely flying, but emphasizes the importance of safety regulations and careful implementation to ensure the public's trust and safety. Additionally, the flying car, the Blackfly by Pivotal, is restricted from being flown in controlled airspace, near airports, or above a certain altitude to minimize risks.
EVTOLs: The Future of Affordable Air Taxi Services: EVTOL companies like Wisk, Joby, and Archer are focusing on air taxi services, offering quick and affordable transportation, with plans for implementation within the next 5 to 10 years.
While the pivotal wing copter discussed earlier has limitations for commercial use and is primarily seen as a toy for the wealthy, the emerging eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) industry, represented by companies like Wisk, Joby, and Archer, is focusing on air taxi services as a more viable and accessible use case. These electric helicopters, which will operate from vertiports and take off and land vertically, aim to offer quick and affordable transportation, eventually even allowing passengers to land inside airport terminals. With production certification already granted to a Chinese company and plans for implementation within the next 5 to 10 years, the future of eVTOLs as a common mode of transportation is promising, but the regulatory landscape and accessibility to all remain open questions.
Challenges of Implementing Urban Air Taxis: Urban air taxis face challenges in urban areas due to congestion, regulation, volume, and workforce needs. Autonomous flying vehicles offer potential solutions for rural areas like medical transport and commuting.
The implementation of urban air taxis, or flying cars, faces numerous challenges, including solving complex problems like urban congestion and relaxation of regulations, as well as the volume issue and the need for a large workforce of pilots. However, there is a more plausible use case for rural areas, such as medical transport and commuting. Companies like Wisk are aiming for full autonomy from the start, recognizing the financial and practical challenges of hiring pilots. The integration of autonomous flying vehicles into the commuting landscape would require significant changes to regulations and social norms, as well as the infrastructure to support their operation. Despite the appeal of bypassing ground infrastructure issues, the reality is that introducing these vehicles would not make the sky empty, but rather create new challenges.
The Complex Reality of the Flying Car Revolution: Despite skepticism, the potential for transformative inner-city transit through flying cars could yield significant changes within the next few decades.
The reality of a flying car revolution is complex and multifaceted, with various technological, political, and behavioral factors at play. While some see the potential for transformative inner-city transit through air taxis, others harbor skepticism due to concerns over safety, trust, and practicality. However, history shows that our imagination for what's plausible in aviation may be limited, and the exponential growth of this industry over the last century suggests that the flying car revolution, though currently uncertain, could yield significant changes within the next few decades.
Predicting the Future of Flying Cars: Challenges and Opportunities: Creating a safe and efficient flying car infrastructure is complex due to unique requirements of flying vehicles, raising questions about feasibility and safety of flying buses or larger eVTOLs, and potential opportunities for enabling super commuters to live farther away from workplaces.
The widespread adoption of flying cars as a new mode of transportation faces significant challenges due to the unique requirements of flying vehicles compared to traditional automobiles. The Wright brothers' cautious approach to predicting the future of aviation technology reflects the complexity of creating a safe and efficient flying car infrastructure. Despite the advancements in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) technology, it remains difficult to imagine every house having an eVTOL that lifts up into the sky and flies autonomously without creating noise and potential accident issues. Moreover, the concept of flying buses or larger eVTOL vehicles raises questions about their feasibility and safety. Instead, it seems that new transportation technologies may unlock new opportunities for travel, such as enabling super commuters to live farther away from their workplaces while still getting there efficiently. Overall, the future of transportation is exciting, but it requires careful consideration of the unique challenges posed by flying cars.
Beyond the convenience of flying cars: Technology may not significantly change commuting experience or emotional flourishing, focus on enhancing overall human experience instead.
The idea of flying cars as a solution to traffic congestion may not be as transformative as we imagine. Despite the technological advancements, the essence of commuting to work and the experience at the workplace might not change significantly. The speaker suggests that we should look beyond the convenience of getting to work faster and consider the potential for technology to enhance our overall human experience and emotional flourishing. The speaker also mentions that the technology for instantaneous commuting already exists in the form of laptops and remote work. However, it's not accessible to everyone, and even for those it is, it may not lead to significant existential changes. Instead, it may only serve to make the commute faster and the work experience slightly more productive.
