Fold-up plane ushers in George Jetson era of travel? on clarkhoward.com

During the early '60s, the creators of animated series The Jetsons had a vision of life in the future involving jet packs and aerocars for transportation. Could that era finally be upon us?

There's been a huge buzz in the aircraft world about a new personal plane called the ICON A5. The ICON is a foldable airplane that travels at speeds of 120 mph and can land or takeoff on land or water. It's designed to be so easy to operate that it only requires 20 hours of training and a standard driver's license to operate.

But hold on, George Jetson. A pre-assembled, factory-built model is expected to sell for $139,000.

The ICON is just one of a wave of personal aircraft that entrepreneurs and aviation enthusiasts are working on. During a recent staff meeting, Team Clark thought its penny-pinching leader was crazy for thinking he might want to get an ICON.

Christa raised concerns about amateur pilots crashing into each other and various buildings. Clark agrees those are valid concerns, but he can't shake the idea that we're just on the edge of a personal era of transportation. George would be proud!

What others are saying

Personal Plane and I have a BETTER Plane
Check out this plane from europe The PAL-V http://www.pal-v.com/.

VERY COOL!
By Rick B @ 08/12/08 03:31:00 PMreport abuse
Car/Plane
AirVenture Oshkosh '08 ended 3 Aug. and such a plane was on display. (The ExpeAFUVYrimental Aircraft Assoc. annual fly in) AirVenture is the world's largest aircraft event, and engineers from GE, AirBus, etc. attend to get ideas for new jet engines to home built aircraft inovations. Some of the morning shows showed the Jet Pac--individual Jetson transports. Check web: AirVemtireEAA.org for more info.
By Jim Sharpe @ 08/12/08 02:56:58 PMreport abuse
Are you serious
Do you really want all the idiots on the road in a free for all in the sky w/ you. I don't. I don't think at least 1/4 of the people who have driver's lisences should be allow to use them.
By Garrett Kusmack @ 08/11/08 05:25:54 PMreport abuse
Foldup plane
Clark is too chicken to get a smart car... yet he considers flying a small plane...? Illogical.People can't even drive properly in the U.S. and to see the average Joe flying to work like on the cover of an old Popular Mechanics showing the future is dreaming.
By Hans Broemel @ 08/11/08 04:17:35 PMreport abuse
ICON Light Sport Aircraft
For about $30K U can get a flyable that will land at any airport. U can't land anywhere else any way. Join the Local EAA Chapter. Fly cheaper, have fun and make some friends
By victor oneill @ 08/11/08 03:39:42 PMreport abuse
ICON
I saw this at OSHKOSH. It is an interesting plane and fitted very well. By the time you get the right avionics and a few bells and whistles, it won't be $139,00.00
By Leigh Roberts @ 08/11/08 12:02:03 PMreport abuse
Icon aircraft
The Light Sport Aircraft has been around for several years and does require a pilots license to operate, but does not require a medical examine. You use your drivers license for your medical and make your own determination whether or not you are medically able to fly. The minimum training time to learn to fly a LSA is 20 hours, but normally will take 30 hours or more depending on the persons capabilities. This training is very extensive and includes learning to fly the airplane and all the FAA rules regulations. You still have to abid by all the FAA rules and regulations the same as all pilots do. The aircraft must still have annual inspections and the pilot must go through a bi-annual flight review by a Certified Flight Instructor.

Christa raised concerns about pilots crashing into each other and buildings. This just won't happen because of the training required. There are also restrictions placed on the pilot such as no night flying permited nor flying on instructments in bad weather. Also no flying into major airport territory such as Atlanta without prior certification and sign-off by his flight instructer. If all drivers of automobiles were required to have similar training as we do for a pilots license we would have many fewer accidents and better drivers.
By John Williams @ 08/08/08 02:53:05 PMreport abuse
Personal Aircraft
An anti-collision program was recently patented for personal aircraft - that way your vehicle is preprogrammed to avoid collisions. Will probably come standard on future models.
By mathmama @ 08/06/08 05:09:54 PMreport abuse

Personal Plane and I have a BETTER Plane

Check out this plane from europe The PAL-V http://www.pal-v.com/.

VERY COOL!

By Rick B @ 08/12/08 03:31:00 PMreport abuse

Car/Plane

AirVenture Oshkosh '08 ended 3 Aug. and such a plane was on display. (The ExpeAFUVYrimental Aircraft Assoc. annual fly in) AirVenture is the world's largest aircraft event, and engineers from GE, AirBus, etc. attend to get ideas for new jet engines to home built aircraft inovations. Some of the morning shows showed the Jet Pac--individual Jetson transports. Check web: AirVemtireEAA.org for more info.

By Jim Sharpe @ 08/12/08 02:56:58 PMreport abuse

Are you serious

Do you really want all the idiots on the road in a free for all in the sky w/ you. I don't. I don't think at least 1/4 of the people who have driver's lisences should be allow to use them.

By Garrett Kusmack @ 08/11/08 05:25:54 PMreport abuse

Foldup plane

Clark is too chicken to get a smart car... yet he considers flying a small plane...? Illogical.People can't even drive properly in the U.S. and to see the average Joe flying to work like on the cover of an old Popular Mechanics showing the future is dreaming.

By Hans Broemel @ 08/11/08 04:17:35 PMreport abuse

ICON Light Sport Aircraft

For about $30K U can get a flyable that will land at any airport. U can't land anywhere else any way. Join the Local EAA Chapter. Fly cheaper, have fun and make some friends

By victor oneill @ 08/11/08 03:39:42 PMreport abuse

ICON

I saw this at OSHKOSH. It is an interesting plane and fitted very well. By the time you get the right avionics and a few bells and whistles, it won't be $139,00.00

By Leigh Roberts @ 08/11/08 12:02:03 PMreport abuse

Icon aircraft

The Light Sport Aircraft has been around for several years and does require a pilots license to operate, but does not require a medical examine. You use your drivers license for your medical and make your own determination whether or not you are medically able to fly. The minimum training time to learn to fly a LSA is 20 hours, but normally will take 30 hours or more depending on the persons capabilities. This training is very extensive and includes learning to fly the airplane and all the FAA rules regulations. You still have to abid by all the FAA rules and regulations the same as all pilots do. The aircraft must still have annual inspections and the pilot must go through a bi-annual flight review by a Certified Flight Instructor.

Christa raised concerns about pilots crashing into each other and buildings. This just won't happen because of the training required. There are also restrictions placed on the pilot such as no night flying permited nor flying on instructments in bad weather. Also no flying into major airport territory such as Atlanta without prior certification and sign-off by his flight instructer. If all drivers of automobiles were required to have similar training as we do for a pilots license we would have many fewer accidents and better drivers.

By John Williams @ 08/08/08 02:53:05 PMreport abuse

Personal Aircraft

An anti-collision program was recently patented for personal aircraft - that way your vehicle is preprogrammed to avoid collisions. Will probably come standard on future models.

By mathmama @ 08/06/08 05:09:54 PMreport abuse

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Aug 06, 2008 -- Fold-up plane ushers in George Jetson era of travel?

What others are saying