Special thanks
to Harry W. Falk and Trek Aerospace for their help with this article.
When the automobile first rolled onto dirt roads in the 19th century, it allowed us to go places we'd never been and let us get there in a matter of hours instead of days. Unlike the train, which confined people to stops and schedules, the car gave us an amazing sense of freedom. Today, our cars still give us great freedom -- but in many cities, that freedom is tempered by the annoyance of heavy traffic. There's nothing quite as frustrating as being late for work or an important event because of gridlock.


Photo courtesy trekaerospace.com
Springtail EFV-4A during a free hover in October 2003

If you enjoy unique takes on aviation, then you should check out the paragliding article, video and images at Discovery’s Fearless Planet to learn more.

Wouldn't it be great if you could get around without worrying about traffic? With a personal air vehicle (PAV), it might very well be possible. In this article, HowStuffWorks looks at the technology behind a current PAV, the Springtail EFV-4B.