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Flying Car Information
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What is a flying car?
Today, what is defined as a flying car varies widely due to the many designs and variations of personal flying vehicles. A flying car is a vehicle that can transport one or more people to precise, specific locations by way by air, and sometimes utilizing a road.  Currently, there are four types of flying cars; roadable aircraft, VTOL aircraft, parasail and multi-rotor aircraft.  Any of these types may use gasoline engines, electric motors, or a combination of the two - a hybrid.
History of the flying car
The quest for flying cars is nearly as old as the automobile itself.  Henry Ford predicted that civilians would be utilizing flying cars in the not too distant future.  Many pioneers attempted to build and operate flying vehicles with varied results.  Some vehicles, like the Moeller Skycar never got past short test hops, while other flying autos like, the AVE Mizar, AKA, the flying Pinto, made several successful test flights - only to end in disaster.
Modern flying cars
With the progress of technology, viable personal flying vehicles are beginning to appear.  The Skyrunner MK3 is a product of modern technology.  It is basically a dune buggy that is equipped with a propeller and a hefty parasail that allows it to take off from rugged terrain - it is truly a "flying car".  This vehicle along with the Maverick, are two of the first flying cars that are on sale to the public.
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In addition to this, there are dozens of start-ups with flying cars in various stages of development.  Some, like the Terrafugia Transition, are roadworthy and airworthy - only years away from full production, while others, like the Aska, only exist as models and concept art.  With the advent of of lithium ion batteries, brushless motors and advanced Artificial Intelligence - many pioneers are turning to all electric designs to power their inventions.  Many of the flying cars today appear similar to electric drones, but on a larger scale.  
Concept of the Air Taxi
Many larger aviation companies like Boeing, Airbus and Bell are starting to develop their own flying vehicles dubbed as "air taxis".  The concept of this vehicle is simple - pick up passengers on demand at nearby skyports, and transport them to a nearby destination, but far enough to save time over using traditional transportation.  Flying allows one to fly directly to a location, avoiding traffic gridlock and traffic stops.  This will allow one to get to a location much quicker than ever imagined.  The company Uber is currently in the lead with their Uber Air taxi service.  They are currently building infrastructure while concurrently developing their eVTOL air taxi.  They stated that they will begin small scale testing in three large cities.  Depending on the success of these trials - they will expand their operation to the rest of the world.
How much will flying cars cost?
While most vehicles are still in development, and therefore, do not have solid prices attached, it currently appears that it will cost a premium to purchase a flying car, leading many people to see them more as luxury items for the rich and not having much of an impact on transportation as their developers are claiming.  Currently, the cheapest flying car on sale is the Maverick, coming in at $94,000 US.  Other vehicles that are almost in production stage are expected to be anywhere from $100,000 to over $1,000,000.  The company Opener says that their flying car, the Blackfly, will cost about the same price as an "SUV".  While this is vague, it may end up being the lowest priced vehicle of all.  
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Just like the car, the practicality of flying cars will probably not be realized until they come down in cost.  As the infrastructure for these vehicles increase, prices are expected to come down to expenses that the average person can afford.  Until then, the general public will mostly utilize flying cars as air taxis.
Will flying cars be safe?
Most flying cars of the past had questionable safety standards.  This is not the case for most modern flying cars.  Thanks to technology, most flying cars have a multitude of flight safety systems such as ballistic parachutes, glide mode, and redundant motors with independent power supplies.  In addition to this, modern flying cars will utilize GPS and other avionic sensors to control the flight experience.  Some, like the Blackfly, will allow for user inputs in addition to using advanced Artificial Intelligence to keep pilots/drivers out of dangerous situations.  They will also have avoidance systems to prevent mid-air collisions.  Many of the vehicles are getting FAA certifications to ensure their safety in the air.
Will I need a pilots license to pilot a flying car?
Yes and no.  It depends of the purpose of the vehicle and its flight capabilities.  Small, short range vehicles such as the Kitty Hawk flyer will be classified as an ultralight and will not require a pilots license at all - only basic vehicle training.  Larger, more powerful, roadable aircraft like the Aeromobil 4.0, will require a Sports Pilots License which takes 20 hours of flight training and will have various airspace, time and weather restrictions.  The Uber Air taxi service will not require any training whatsoever and will either have a onboard pilot or use advanced AI to transport you to your destination.
The future of flying cars and personal flying vehicles is bright.  While they are not mainstream at the moment, they will be slowly introduced to the public over the next decade.  As technology advances and more skyports are constructed, flying cars will be the next mode of transportation that will  increase productivity and make locations more accessible than ever before.
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