"Carrying on with our 'the future is here' theme for today, may we point you in the direction of this report, which examines the possibility that the skies above London will soon be filled with flying cars (or 'jetpods' as they're called).
The report profiles the claims of London-based firm Avcen who hope to get what they call "personal aircraft" into the sky sometime around 2010.
The managing director of Avcen has given an interview to the BBC in which he claims "a Jetpod could make the trip from Woking in Surrey to central London in a mere four minutes" and that a journey "from Heathrow to London could set you back as little as 40 or 50 quid."
The journalist at the Register imagines the following conversation in a London flying cab:
Commuter: "I'm sorry, but isn't that Luton down there?"
Cabbie: "Yeah mate. I had to detour to avoid the traffic in West London. Bloody murder at this time of day."
Commuter: "I hope the meter isn't running..."
Cabbie: "Listen mate, I can't be blamed if they've got roadworks at Hyde Park Corner. It won't be more than an extra 200 quid. Did I tell you I had that Richard Branson in the back of the cab a couple of weeks back? Diamond geezer..."
However, Londonist sees it a little more like this:
Commuter: "I'm sorry, but isn't that Luton down there?"
Cabbie: "What about it?"
Commuter: "I hope the meter isn't running..."
Cabbie: "Do you know how to fly a plane mate?"
Commuter: "No. Why?"
Cabbie: "Can you read what that button says?"
Commuter: "Er...Ejector seat?"
Cabbie: "That's right. Any more questions?"
