Friday, November 14, 2008

Commuting Will Be A Breeze (1957)


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)

5 comments:

Matt said...

Wow. Not sure it's practical in the city, though.
With all that downward thrust, surely those people under it would be blown down?

Stipey Sullivan said...

isn't that a flying games console. dropped by a kid into a lego town?

Anonymous said...

I wouldn't want to be living in one of those buildings. That looks *really* noisy.

Unknown said...

Looks 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.
This thing never had a chance.

Anonymous said...

It reminds me of the V-20 osprey, I heard that they are making a civil model for commuting purposes.