You read the comments and you think everybody gets it, but then nobody gets it.
Google must be too early.
Cora – Kitty Hawk's prototype air taxi [video]
21–30 of 286 posts
Re: Cora – Kitty Hawk's prototype air taxi [video]
#22I must say I'm against this development. First of all, even if electric, this is certainly a very inefficient way of transportation that will 'waste' a lot of energy to transport maybe 4 people. The resulting price of this technology will result in the 99% stuck on the ground while the only te 1% can afford the fare. And even if it becomes a regular mode of transportation, do you really want these planes to fly over…
I agree with your opposition to this development with respect to people moved per unit of energy consumed. I think development funds are much better spent on improving the efficiency, reliability, and capacity of mass transit systems for large and crowded urban areas. However, that's not really fodder for sexy startup material.
Additionally, if these are widely adopted, I can imagine a highly-crowded Class G (or D, if near an airport -- and how do you establish two-way comms between ATC and an autonomous flying taxi?) airspace ending badly for passengers or bystanders in crowded metropolitan areas. This may be why KittyHawk has done their R&D in New Zealand, rather than in the US under FAA regulations.
Re: Cora – Kitty Hawk's prototype air taxi [video]
#23I must say I'm against this development. First of all, even if electric, this is certainly a very inefficient way of transportation that will 'waste' a lot of energy to transport maybe 4 people. The resulting price of this technology will result in the 99% stuck on the ground while the only te 1% can afford the fare. And even if it becomes a regular mode of transportation, do you really want these planes to fly over…
Don't worry, when they say "how we all get around" they don't mean the vast majority of society including you. This is for the billionaire class that is turning New Zealand into the billionaires' prepper island. This is for those who precisely don't want to share the sky with you. A basic Cessna from 1975 is currently around $110,000 and not because it's an antique. How much do you think this nonsense air taxi will cost? You can do the math yourself. Are you the demographic that is going to pay $500 for an air taxi across the city?
This video has all the hallmarks of the Billionaire liberal cult message, twinkly background music, delusional statements about how electric is emissions free just because it externalizes the emissions to the power plant, the fake smiles and restrained psychopathic messaging about being "reeeeeally excited". It's all there.
It's amazing how people don't get that we are on a path towards Elysium, not some delusional liberal hippy fantasy land of everyone just getting along and loving each other. But sure, maybe I'm wrong and there will be billions of these zipping around in the sky. What a wonderful prospect. Now if they can only control the peasant rabble's behavior to make that possible.
But the techtalitarians have that part covered too as they sacrifice the civilized world to savagery that can be used as justification to enact ever more controls and surveillance. It's bizarre to see this delusional tradeoff happening as magical thinking blinds people to the reality that stares them down.
Re: Cora – Kitty Hawk's prototype air taxi [video]
#24I must say I'm against this development. First of all, even if electric, this is certainly a very inefficient way of transportation that will 'waste' a lot of energy to transport maybe 4 people. The resulting price of this technology will result in the 99% stuck on the ground while the only te 1% can afford the fare. And even if it becomes a regular mode of transportation, do you really want these planes to fly over…
I agree. People talking about flying cars sound a lot like people demanding faster horses. Or flying horses.
I do not think the American dream of a private car scales too well to the future, be it with rubber wheels or tiny propellers. Especially given the population growth.
Instead, a brief visit to Singapore, for example, will convince anyone what the future of transportation looks like. A public transport system, enabling a lifestyle that makes cars redundant.
Re: Cora – Kitty Hawk's prototype air taxi [video]
#25KittyHawk is not an Alphabet startup. It is no affiliated with Alphabet. The title is misleading.
Another article on HN today says it has personal funding from Larry Page. ie not Alphabet.
Re: Cora – Kitty Hawk's prototype air taxi [video]
#26A lot of negative comments here. I must say I'm impressed and I applaud these people for building an innovative working thing and taking it to production. No pilot - mind blown.
And sure, this might not be the solution to humanity's overall mobility, but heck I can see it being useful in many ways.
Re: Cora – Kitty Hawk's prototype air taxi [video]
#27I think it's perfect for transportation. A share model could really exist with it, less infrastructure.
If it becomes popular, entire cities could change how they look ( roof = taxi, roads for bicycles and deliveries on the roof)
Re: Cora – Kitty Hawk's prototype air taxi [video]
#28I must say I'm against this development. First of all, even if electric, this is certainly a very inefficient way of transportation that will 'waste' a lot of energy to transport maybe 4 people. The resulting price of this technology will result in the 99% stuck on the ground while the only te 1% can afford the fare. And even if it becomes a regular mode of transportation, do you really want these planes to fly over…
I'm personally against it because I don't want anything to fall down into my garden or on my head in case of a failure.
Re: Cora – Kitty Hawk's prototype air taxi [video]
#29Interesting that they'd release this video the same day a helicopter crash featured prominently in the news.
Re: Cora – Kitty Hawk's prototype air taxi [video]
#30That video is so cringy.
What did you expect from a product called KittyHawk?