IMM Report Number 4 In conjunction with Foresight Update 34
Molecular Manufacturing and the Private Aircar by J. Storrs Hall
Institute for Molecular Manufacturing Earlier this year I spent
some time studying the problem of the design of flying cars.
This was initiated by a suggestion of Al Globus of NASA Ames,
who thought it would be a good way to get some of the
aeronautics people at Ames to appreciate the possibilities of
molecular manufacturing. I’m very grateful for the help of Eric
Drexler with the project, and also some suggestions from Jeffrey
Soreff. Surprisingly enough, it’s a non-trivial problem even
with molecular manufacturing. For fifty years, the private
aircar, i.e. an aeronautical vehicle which is functionally and
economically capable of replacing the automobile, has seemed
tantalizingly close to reality. This hope has foundered on
several stumbling blocks: - Cost. For the performance required,
an engine with power-to-weight ratios of the gas turbine class
is needed; these cost $100,000 and up