A plane for the price of a car

The thrill of solo flight is something everyone should experience: piloting through air without any distractions, whether it be the screaming baby in the aisle next to you in coach, or a freaked-out friend you're taking up for their first trip in a small plane. Yet the high cost of owning an airplane, or coordinating to rent one whenever you have the urge, can be prohibitive. But now, for just $40K, you can score your very own personal electric aircraft from Greenwing, whose eSpyder — the first electric aircraft to receive a national certification from Germany — has just hit the market.

While it's being sold as a complete airplane to European customers, stateside it's currently only available as a build kit (due to antiquated FAA rules they're pushing be amended), so factor in some heavy elbow grease into the comparatively low price. And like most electric vehicles, it's slower than traditionally fueled counterparts — it maxes out at just 68 mph —but that also means the ride will be incredibly peaceful, free of the noise and vibration inherent to typical small aircraft engines.

Lastly, don't plan on crossing any big bodies of water without pulling an Amelia Earhart, though. It's 75V lithium battery (which takes 2-3 hours to fully charge) translates to a flying time of one to one-and-a-half hours.