What’s stopping flying cars and jetpacks from becoming mainstream?

The article explores why personal flying vehicles like jetpacks, hoverboards, and flying cars have yet to become mainstream despite significant technological advances. Modern personal flying machines largely fall under the EVTOL (Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing) category, benefiting from drone technology improvements such as flight stabilization and obstacle avoidance. A vibrant DIY community, supported by accessible tech like 3D printing and online tutorials, has enabled enthusiasts to build functional ultralight aircraft, exemplified by innovators like Hunter Kowald’s Sky Surfer flying skateboard and companies like Omni Hoverboards and Ascend Dynamics. Beyond ultralight craft, companies inspired by sci-fi have developed jetpack and airbike prototypes, such as Gravity Industries’ hand-steered jetpack and Volonort’s speeder bike-style vehicle. While impressive, their reliance on jet fuel limits everyday use. The next evolution is flying cars, with examples like the Jetson ONE—a single-seat, eight-rotor EVTOL priced at $150,000 and aimed at