Tesla debuts rocket-thruster-equipped Roadster, world’s first flying car

A flying Tesla? You first.

Elon Musk has unveiled Tesla’s new Roadster, and yes—it can get airborne using cold-gas thrusters. Before you picture flying over I-25, though, this is short-burst airborne movement—not an everyday flying commuter car.

Like him or not, Musk continues to push technological boundaries. This car didn’t just lift off the ground, it turned in the air and then stick to the road upside down like Spiderman.

The technology sounds impressive. But personally? I have questions. About the air traffic control. We already have people who can’t stay within the lines on the road. Do we really want to give them another direction to wander? And between the headaches of TSA and the complicated job of air traffic control, I’m not sure adding flying cars sounds like less stress. Who would keep everybody safely separated up there?

Then there’s maintenance. You know that person who ignores every warning light on the dashboard? Imagine that same person owning a flying car for ten years and never taking care of it. I’m not saying this Tesla would simply fall out of the sky. But that’s where my imagination goes: somebody’s neglected flying car quits overhead, and suddenly it’s landing on my house.

Maybe someday flying cars will feel normal. For now, I’d like people to master turn signals, lane lines and routine maintenance before we start discussing takeoff.

Would you ride in one—or are you happy keeping your tires on the ground?

Read more and see the video here.