Flying to Timbuktu

Sometime tonight (9 am Wednesday in the UK) Giles Cardozo and Neil going to drive/fly their skycar from London to Timbuktu. The skycar is a cross between a dune buggy and a paraglider.

Things don't get much cooler than this. If the US automakers had any soul they would be spending the bailout money on building these for us. The stats:

In “fly mode” the car will have:

• a take-off speed of 60 kmph
• a top speed of 110 kmph
• a range of 300 km.
• a cruising altitude of 2000 – 3000 ft
• a maximum altitude of 15,000 ft.

In "road mode" the car will have:

• independent 4 wheel suspension
• rear wheel drive
• acceleration from 0-100 kmph in 4.5 seconds
• a top speed of 180 kmph
• a range of 400 km.

Of course I want one, but the best we can do now is get a parajet Volution for 5950 pounds. That's a bargain, given that a frikkin' stand-up surf board is 1200 US, plus 250 for the paddle.