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Senator Flynn introduces memorandum for flying cars

EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU)— Yes you read that right State Sen. Marty Flynn, D-22, will be introducing legislation "to allow for roadable aircraft", and looking for some cosponsors.

In an a memo issued on August 28, the flying car "would travel both on roadways as a motor vehicle and flown in the airspace as an aircraft."

You would also need a license for an auto vehicle and a plane to operate the "flying car".

Pennsylvania would only be third state to pass this type of legislation alongside Minnesota and New York.

Flynn states that Pennsylvania could provide the framework, requirements, and safety standards for air travel going forward.

The new legislation would require roadable aircraft follow the same traffic laws as "other vehicles, including cars, trucks, bicycles, and motorcycles."

There have been several models that been tested throughout history.

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The first fixed-wing roadable aircraft, built by Waldo Waterman, nicknamed the "Arrowbile" was flown in 1937 in the San Diego Bay.

Molt Taylor then built the "Aerocar" which made a successful flight in 1949, and underwent multiple road and flying tests.

More recently, in 2009, the U.S. started the Defensive Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to help develop the first four-person roadable aircraft by 2015. The project was scrapped by 2013.

The Alef Model A, proposed in 2023, generated 2,850 pre orders back in April, and the two-seater car is expected to cost around $300,000.

They are also working on a 4-door-mini van to drop the kids off at soccer practice, and expected to be at a more reasonable price of $35,000. They plan to launch the vehicle, Model Z, by 2035.