The October 22, 1957 Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune (Chillicothe, MO) ran this image of a flying bus of the future.
Commuting will be a breeze in the future, according to a national science magazine, which envisions tomorrow's workers traveling from home to business at 100 m.p.h. via a ducted-fan flying bus like the one above. The design, originated by Charles Zimmerman of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, provides a control dome for pilot and copilot, and seats 40 passengers behind large door windows which provide an unexcelled view. Artist-author Frank Tinsley of Mechanix Illustrated magazine, depicts the craft, which will support itself on columns of air forced downward through its twin fans.
Read more:
Nuclear Rocketship (1959)
Commuter Helicopter (1947)
'Flying Saucer' Buses (1950)
Wow. Not sure it's practical in the city, though.
ReplyDeleteWith all that downward thrust, surely those people under it would be blown down?
isn't that a flying games console. dropped by a kid into a lego town?
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't want to be living in one of those buildings. That looks *really* noisy.
ReplyDeleteLooks absolutely nauseating to ride on. The whole thing would have a wretched smell from all the people it made sick with its incessant wobbling. I would echo the comments about the danger and noise of its giant whirling blades.
ReplyDeleteThis thing never had a chance.
It reminds me of the V-20 osprey, I heard that they are making a civil model for commuting purposes.
ReplyDelete