Boeing Sky Commuter Is A Flying Car Concept

This looks like a flying car that might actually work – even if the one you see here and which is offered for sale by Barrett-Jakson, doesn’t come with an engine.

Since the invention of the automobile, man has struggled to invent a personal, compact, flying machine. Don’t ask why.

The idea of a flying-car may sound good on paper, but in reality has proven to be a total flop. Dozens of “flying pioneers” spent their lives creating silly machines that wouldn’t on a day-to-day basis.

And why in the world not a single one looked awesome? Whenever I see a plane or a jet, I imagine owning one and being cool while fainting due to my incapacity of resisting negative Gs and piloting such machines.

On the other hand, I never wished to own a flying car and probably never will, mainly because I expect the concept to bring together the best of both worlds, but it never does. It just remains an awful, mediocre, common idea, instead.

But this concept is different. This actually looks cool. Why? Because it was designed by Boeing, an actual aircraft manufacturing company that knows a thing or two about flying machines.

It’s called the Sky Commuter and it was built in the 1980’s. The thing has a tricycle layout and it was powered by an on-board gas turbine engine linked to three fans via a helicopter-based driveshaft. Forward movement was provided by the thrust exiting the exhaust by the tail of the…car. Can I call it a car?

Anyway, reports indicate that Boing spent 6,000,000 smackaroos (dollars) on development before the entire project was cancelled. Good use of money.

Three prototypes were built, but this particular one is the sole remaining example and it’s offered for auction by Barret-Jackson with an estimated price of $71,500.

Well, at least you’ll get your very own flying whatchamacallit, right? Um, no. The Sky Commuter is non-functional, because the engine nacelle is empty. So, as well as I’m concerned, this prototype is just a very expensive, quarter-operated kiddie ride; only in this case you’ll need 70 grand to play with it. That’s 280,000 quarters.

But who knows, maybe you can get a replacement engine and make it work.