Okay, so apparently we’re getting closer to the future that science fiction has been promising us for decades, because Tesla has now shown off its so-called flying car.
And look, I have some shit to say about this.
Now, before anyone gets the wrong idea, let me make something clear: I am not an Elon Musk fan, and I am not particularly a fan of Tesla, either. I have my own opinions about Musk, his companies, and the things he does. I am not about to suddenly become a Tesla supporter just because the company has shown off something that looks like it belongs in a science fiction movie.
But you know what?
I have to admit that the flying car is pretty damn cool.
And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with saying that.
We Might Actually Be Living in the Future
Think about it for a moment. For generations, people have imagined a future in which we could get into our cars and fly around. We have seen it in movies, television shows, cartoons, video games, and all sorts of science fiction stories.
Flying cars have become one of those things that people associate with the future. We have been talking about them for so long that you would think we would have figured them out by now.
And yet, here we are.
Tesla recently demonstrated its next-generation Roadster with a system involving high-pressure gas thrusters. During the October 2026 demonstration, the prototype performed some absolutely wild stunts, including launching into the air and flipping before landing.
Now, let’s be clear about something: this wasn’t a demonstration of a car casually cruising through the sky like a plane. The prototype performed brief aerial maneuvers, and whether the finished vehicle will deliver everything being promised remains to be seen. Tesla has said production is planned for 2028.
Still, even with those caveats, I can look at the demonstration and think, Holy shit, we’re actually trying to make this happen.
And that is pretty fascinating.
Because regardless of how you feel about Tesla, the idea of combining automotive engineering with technology that can propel a vehicle into the air is something that would have sounded like pure fantasy to a lot of people just a few decades ago.
Now, I am not saying that Tesla has revolutionized transportation overnight. I am not saying that this thing is going to be affordable, practical, or even available to the average person anytime soon.
I am saying that there is something undeniably interesting about seeing a company attempt something that most of us have spent our lives associating with science fiction.
You Don’t Have to Like Elon Musk to Appreciate the Technology
And this is where I think some folks might misunderstand my position.
Just because I think this flying car is cool doesn’t mean I suddenly like Elon Musk.
It doesn’t mean I endorse everything he says, everything he does, or everything associated with his businesses.
It doesn’t mean I am going to run out and buy a Tesla.
It doesn’t mean I am going to ignore my criticisms of the man or his companies.
It means that I can look at one particular technological development and appreciate it for what it is.
Why is that such a difficult concept for some people?
Seriously.
We live in a world where people sometimes treat their opinions about a person, company, or organization as if those opinions must determine how they feel about absolutely everything connected to that person, company, or organization.
If they dislike someone, then apparently everything that person does must be terrible.
If they support someone, then everything that person does must be wonderful.
And I just don’t operate that way.
I can dislike a musician and still enjoy one of their songs. I can disagree with a politician and still acknowledge when they do something worthwhile. I can criticize a company and still appreciate an interesting product it develops.
Likewise, I can think Elon Musk has done things worth criticizing while acknowledging that a flying car is a fascinating idea.
Those positions are not contradictory.
In fact, I would argue that being able to hold both opinions at once is a pretty useful skill.
You can criticize someone without having to reject every single thing they do.
And you can appreciate an achievement without having to become a supporter of the person responsible for it.
Both things can be true at the same time.
But Let’s Not Get Ahead of Ourselves
Now, before we start acting like we’re all going to be driving flying cars to work next Monday, let’s pump the brakes a little.
Or, in this case, let’s pump the thrusters.
There are still some pretty substantial questions surrounding this technology.
For starters, there is the question of practicality. How much will a vehicle like this cost? How much maintenance will it require? How reliable will its flight system be? How will it operate safely around other vehicles, buildings, aircraft, and people?
Then there is the question of regulation.
Driving a car on a public road is one thing. Operating a vehicle that can leave the ground is an entirely different matter. Aviation safety requirements, airspace rules, and the potential consequences of mechanical failure all become important considerations.
And let’s be honest: if something goes wrong with your regular car, you might be able to pull over to the side of the road.
If something goes wrong while your vehicle is airborne, the situation could become considerably more dangerous.
There is also the question of what we even mean when we call something a flying car.
Does a vehicle qualify because it can briefly propel itself into the air? Does it need to sustain flight? Does it need to function as a practical road vehicle and an aircraft?
Those are legitimate questions, and the answers matter.
The recent demonstration was exciting, but it does not establish that the vehicle can safely and routinely fly from one destination to another. Nor does it establish that the production version will have all the capabilities shown in the demonstration.
And given how long the next-generation Roadster has been in development, I think it is reasonable to wait and see what actually reaches customers.
I can be excited about the possibilities without pretending that all the obstacles have already been overcome.
That is the difference between appreciating an innovation and blindly buying into a sales pitch.
Imagine What This Could Mean If the Technology Develops
Now, let’s put Tesla aside for a moment and think about the broader possibilities.
Imagine a future in which flying vehicles become genuinely practical, safe, and accessible.
Imagine new forms of transportation that could help people travel between communities without relying entirely on conventional roads.
Imagine specialized aircraft helping emergency responders reach places that are difficult to access by car.
Imagine new transportation networks that could change how we think about distance and mobility.
Of course, these possibilities would come with their own challenges. Flying vehicles would need to be integrated into existing transportation systems, and there would be questions about noise, energy use, affordability, infrastructure, and safety.
And I am not suggesting that every one of those possibilities will become reality simply because Tesla has demonstrated a prototype.
But the broader idea is interesting.
That is what I find exciting about technological development in general. Sometimes, even an imperfect prototype can get people thinking about what might be possible in the future.
And that future does not necessarily have to belong to Tesla.
Other companies, engineers, researchers, and inventors could develop their own approaches to personal flight. Some technologies might prove more practical than others. Some companies might succeed, while others might fail.
That is how technological progress often works. Someone tries something, people learn from the results, and the next generation tries to improve upon it.
Whether Tesla’s particular approach becomes commercially successful is a separate question from whether the broader concept of personal flying vehicles is worth exploring.
And I can find the concept interesting without putting all my faith in one company.
My Point Is Pretty Simple
Look, I am not going to sit here and pretend that I suddenly love Elon Musk because I watched a flying car demonstration.
I don’t.
I am not going to pretend that Tesla has solved every problem associated with personal flight, either.
It hasn’t demonstrated that yet.
But I can look at that vehicle, watch it perform those stunts, and think that it is pretty damn cool to see someone attempting to turn an idea from science fiction into something tangible.
And I don’t think I should have to pretend otherwise just because I have criticisms of the person behind it.
We need to get away from this idea that appreciating something automatically means endorsing everything associated with it.
Sometimes a cool invention is just a cool invention.
Sometimes an interesting accomplishment deserves recognition even when it comes from someone you don’t particularly like.
And sometimes you can look at something, acknowledge the impressive or fascinating aspects of it, and still maintain your criticisms.
There is no contradiction there.
So, yes, I think Tesla’s flying car is cool.
I will remain skeptical about the promises, the practicality, the eventual price, and whether the final product will actually deliver what is being advertised. I want to see more evidence, more testing, and a working vehicle before I start treating this as the beginning of a transportation revolution.
But am I interested in seeing where this technology goes?
Absolutely.
Because the idea of flying cars becoming a genuine part of our future is fascinating, regardless of which company gets there first.
And if we eventually reach a point where people can safely and practically travel in vehicles that can both drive on roads and fly through the air, I think that would be one hell of a technological development.
Just don’t expect me to become an Elon Musk fan over it.
I can appreciate the flying car without buying into the whole package.
And frankly, I think that’s a perfectly reasonable position to have.
What do you think? Are flying cars something you would actually want to see become a part of everyday transportation, or do you think they belong in science fiction? And can you appreciate a technological achievement even when you aren’t a fan of the person or company behind it?
Let me know what you think.
Because I might not be a fan of Tesla or Elon Musk, but I can still look at a flying car and say, “Okay, that’s pretty fucking cool.”
And sometimes, that’s all there is to it.