Ear: Switchblade

Children of the 1950s will perhaps remember fanciful drawings in magazines of smiling families soaring around in flying cars. Well, that vision is about to come true, if Samson Sky of Redmond has anything to say about it, with their Switchblade Flying Sports Car.

The three-wheeled street-legal vehicle can cruise at up to 125 mph and gets 33 miles per gallon. To fly, the wings (which are stored in the belly) can be deployed, and the tail section extends. The Switchblade can fly at up to 200 mph and up to 13,000 feet.

Just in case you are wondering how one would register such a contraption, in the air, it’s an experimental home-built aircraft; on the road, it’s a custom motorcycle or kit car. And, the owner would need two insurance policies, one for land and one for air, since there’s nothing available for flying cars … yet.

To reserve one, the least expensive Switchblade Kit is $150,000, and the Samson Builder Assist Program (you build it, folks) is $20,000. Just remember, it’s a sports car and an airplane. Some sports cars alone can cost over $200,000, if that makes you feel any better. (Photo: Samson Sky)