764 Japanese company successfully tests a manned flying car for the first time

A Japanese company has announced the successful test drive of a flying car.

Sky Drive Inc. conducted the public demonstration on August 25, the company said in a news release, at the Toyota Test Field, one of the largest in Japan and home to the car company’s development base. It was the first public demonstration for a flying car in Japanese history.

The car, named SD-03, manned with a pilot, took off and circled the field for about four minutes.

“We are extremely excited to have achieved Japan’s first-ever manned flight of a flying car in the two years since we founded SkyDrive… with the goal of commercializing such aircraft,” CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa said in a statement.

“We want to realize a society where flying cars are an accessible and convenient means of transportation in the skies and people are able to experience a safe, secure, and comfortable new way of life.”

I – Word Understanding
Manned – operated by a person
Commercializing – making a product available for sale

II – Have Your Say
1, Do we really need flying cars? What for?
a, Minimize air pollution
b, Frees up roads to give way to pedestrians and cyclists
c, Shorter distances for same journey
d, Less need for roads and highways
2, What challenges do you think we will encounter with flying cars?
a, Safety
b, Cost
c, Noise
3, LImited number of passengers
What would make you choose a flying car over other forms of transportation? Do you have another idea for a better transportation system?

764 Japanese company successfully tests a manned flying car for the first time