Ever since the Jetsons, Americans have wanted to make flying cars a reality. As we entered the new millennium and engineers still hadn’t found a way to realize our space-age dream, the concept of flying cars became a joke. But now, Uber is working towards making that a reality with Uber Elevate.

They’ve started by tackling the most difficult hurdle- partnering with NASA to create an air-traffic control system that can allow safe take-offs from buildings without interfering with commercial flight patterns.

Uber is also working with aircraft partners Boeing, Bell Helicopter, Mooney and Embraer to develop a whole new kind of aircraft: one that can take off and land vertically like a helicopter, but flies more like an airplane. Ideally, the result will be an electric aircraft that is much quieter than helicopters.

Another challenge, and one that may prove to be the most difficult, is to find appropriate and financially-feasible locations for launch pads. How many building owners will be willing to allow aircraft to take off and land on their properties? Will Uber be able to obtain enough properties in areas that are easily accessible to users?

However, the craziest part of all is that the Uber Elevate service tests in Los Angeles, Dallas, and Dubai are scheduled to take place in 2020- and the price is supposed to be competitive with an Uber X ride. Will the effort succeed, or will flying cars be a disastrous joke for Uber? If Uber is successful, they stand to make millions by cornering the flying car market.

We’ll see if they can get this venture off the ground.

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