The driving school for 'flying cars'
It seems just about everyone has been launching a flying car lately, but the Kitty Hawk Flyer stands out for one big reason: it’s here today.
Specifically, it’s in Las Vegas, flying over a big lake.
This is where Kitty Hawk - a company owned by Google co-founder Larry Page - has set up a small hangar and training facility.
It’s where new flyers learn the ropes, a process that currently takes a mere 90 minutes. Most of it is spent rehearsing what happens if something were to go wrong.
The training begins in a basic simulation, a computer game that teaches you about the two controls you need to worry about - one switch to control altitude, and a small joystick to handle direction.
Then you move on to a real Flyer that is strapped to the ground, an exercise designed to remove any nerves you might have about being in the vehicle.
And then you practice getting out in an emergency. The team has set up a ball pool to rehearse getting out of the craft if it happens to land upside down on the water.
And then you’re good to go.
Sadly, the company wouldn’t let me try it out the Flyer for myself. For now I’d have to stand on the shore and watch Brittney Miculka perform manoeuvres over the water.
