In 1962 The Jetsons animated television series debuted, featuring a futuristic life with such technological advances as a robot maid, food pills and flying cars. Technology finally caught up with the creative minds at Hanna-Barbera, as aerocars are set to become a reality.

The Tavistock Development Corp. is constructing the nation’s first regional hub for flying cars in central Florida. Scheduled for completion within five years, the vertiport will be a 56,000-square-foot air taxi facility. The aviation facility is being built in Orlando’s Lake Nona area, a mixed-use planned community previously built by Tavistock. Several medical and research facilities are already in Lake Nona.

Germany-based Lilium will manufacture these space cars. Currently, Lilium manufactures the only five-passenger “electric vertical takeoff and landing” aircraft. This aircraft travels 185 miles on a one-hour charge. The vehicles will be able to transport as many as four passengers (plus the pilot) from Orlando to Tampa (85 miles) in 30 minutes.

Passengers will purchase rides similar to the procedures for car rideshare companies. The initial cost is projected to be about the same as first-class air fare, but the price is expected to go lower as service grows.

While Lilium has plans to make the Lake Nona vertiport a hub for an aerocar network all over the country, there are still hurdles ahead, including air traffic control. Mostly stemming from the unknown caused by rapid advances, these challenges will ultimately be overcome in the name of progress.

Sixty years ago, aerocars were the norm in the fictional Orbit City. Soon, Lake Nona will become a modern-day Orbit City if all goes as planned.

— John Wroblewski, online writer