In 2022, the Swedish company Jetson sold a flying car, the “Jetson One” made by Jetson’s chief Technical Officer Tomasz Patan and Jetson’s president Peter Ternstrom.

The production version has already sold out, with 12 units scheduled for production in 2022. Currently, the company is accepting pre-orders for 123 units to be produced in 2023, and currently, there are only three units left. The deposit is $22,000 and the payment is $70,000 for a total cost of $92,000.

Purchasers will need to complete two days of dedicated training, and the Jetson One is capable of driving a driver of up to 210 pounds for 20 minutes. However, the Jetson One itself weighs 190 pounds, which is a bit lighter than the operator’s permissible weight. The size is 2480mm/1500mm/1030mm and it is designed so that only one person can ride. 

The energy is battery-powered and needs to be recharged many times. The aircraft is shaped like a drone, with four arms and eight propellers, Maneuvering uses a 3-axis joystick and throttle lever, and information during driving can be confirmed by installing a smartphone and can reach a top speed of 63 mph (102k/h). It is designed with safety in mind, with a parachute that opens in case of emergency, hands-free operation, obstacle avoidance, and even if one of the motors fails, the vehicle will still operate without any problems. 

This is an exciting technology for many people, but it will most likely take some time for flying cars to become a part of people’s lives. The Jetson One is a dream machine for many, but right now, it is considered a toy. However, this technology is the first in the world to be sold commercially. 

It is natural that there is no precedent for this, but since there are currently no strict laws regarding flying cars, the Jetson One is classified as an ultralight powered aircraft, so as long as it does not cause significant damage, there will not be much of a legal problem. 

“It’s not intended to solve a major transportation problem yet, at least,” Patan said. “Jetson’s next-generation vehicles will be more mature and will be positioned as urban air transportation units.” 

If technology continues to advance, it is not unlikely that a flying car will turn into a useful technology for human life.

“This is very cool, I’d love to go shopping with it if I could, but $92,000 is too expensive,” said Guilford sophomore Kevin Buikpor. “I think I’ll have to wait until it’s cheaper.”

After all, few people will feel like buying this car because of the fairly high price. Many people are interested in flying cars, but few can actually get involved. At least currently, only 120 people can have a science fiction driving experience.

Professor of English Cynthia Nearman offered her take on the matter. 

“Flying cars are no longer a fantasy, but I think we need to wait another 25 years before we can experience this technology,” Nearman said. “The technology of flying cars is interesting, but I feel very uneasy about traffic with other flying cars.”

Guilford senior Boghdon Green pointed out some technical issues with this new technology. 

“The technology of flying cars is good, but we don’t know what the surrounding facilities will be like,” Green said. “I think there are still many problems to be solved, such as parking for flying cars, the impact on the landing field when landing, and what the altitude will be when flying. It’s good to perfect new technologies, but we need to think about what happens after they are completed.”