Things are moving along at Moller International

This shows how often I check in on my links.

Forbes Online

Vehicle of the Week
Flight Tech
Dan Lienert

The Skycar will debut at next month's WIRED NextFest in San Francisco. According to Moller, limited numbers of the Skycar are expected to be available within the next three years. These will be used for marketing demonstrators, special sales and military applications. A Skycar certified by the Federal Aviation Administration is more than four years away. In limited production (500 units per year) the Skycar is expected to sell for approximately $500,000, a price comparable to that of a four-passenger, high-performance helicopter or airplane. As the volume of production increases, its price could approach that of a premium automobile, $60,000 to $80,000.

Moller has over 100 reservations already for FAA-certified models. The Skycar's on-sale date will depend on how quickly the government certifies the vehicle. Presumably, lots of regulatory agencies will want to inspect the Skycar, which is expected to fly at over 350 mph with a range of 900 miles. As an aircraft, the Skycar will be easy for buyers to operate; a computer does the flying as the pilot simply moves the controls in the direction in which he or she wants to go. Still, the operator will need a pilot's license to use the Skycar.

Looks like the Brazilians might beat us in putting this thing into action:

Sao Paolo Renaissance

The only way to fully comprehend the sheer size of São Paulo is from a rooftop. Skyscrapers sit cheek-by-jowl for as far as the eye can see in all directions, and there's just as much activity in the air as on the ground. Because of the city's notorious traffic jams, the preferred way of getting around is by helicopter. The largest hotels, apartment buildings and office towers all have helipads, and the vista looks like something straight out of Blade Runner.

Only three times the size of Paris, São Paulo is the largest city in South America, and the third largest in the world. Its population has doubled in the past 30 years, and has now reached about 18 million people--including the largest Japanese population outside of Japan. What does that kind of space and numbers feel like? For the uninitiated, São Paulo is overwhelming. It's also not the most attractive city, with the majority of buildings showcasing decaying 1960's block architecture in shades of greige. The city has none of the natural beauty or carefree attitude of Rio de Janeiro. Conventional wisdom is to travel to Rio for fun and São Paulo for business, and the Paulistanos wouldn't want it any other way.

The world moves ahead.