Everyone can fly! Now what?

[shadowstriker86]

So, imagine if a midget fell into a tank of purple kool-aid and got struck by lightning, causing a planetwide effect, unlocking the ability to fly for everyone on the planet! It's Peter Pan style by the way, just think of a happy thought and you're off!

So now what? How will this affect air travel? Or rather everything? Your thoughts?

 

[SomeLameStuff]

Well, gas prices will fall for one. Then my dad will stop pestering me to get a drivers license. Then we'll all have to get flying licenses because a few schmucks will start playing chicken with their new flight powers, crash into each other, and break their heads.

Then the church will probably come out and say this is god preparing us for ascension to become his new angels or something...

 

[Extra-Ordinary]

First off, I'd use it for all of the usual "OMG, I can f*****g fly!" fantasies for about a week, maybe less.
Then I'd be flying relatively close to the ground because SomeLameStuff brought up a good point.

a few schmucks will start playing chicken with their new flight powers, crash into each other, and break their heads.

I'd be watching out for these dare-devils and hope that their not doing races or whatever nonsense at my low altitude.
And just to be safe, I'd wear a helmet to.
It'll look dumb but hey, always better to be too careful than not careful enough.

 

[ffs-dontcare]

Also, governments would step in and try to regulate flying even further so as to save the airlines. It would probably be illegal to "lift off" and land anywhere other than an airport.

Basically, the conspiracy theorist in me suspects oil companies and corporations affected by the emergence of this new-found superpower would pressure governments to implement bureaucratic measures which would allow them to restrict us common folk while preventing themselves from losing money (and more than likely allowing them to make further profits) due to said superpower.

 

[Bertylicious]

I guess I'd have to think about scrapping the car.

Oh shit, what about buying crates of beer for the weekend? Ima need to buy a big ol' rucksack. Also people moving house is going to be terrifying so I'd better buy a helmet. Actually, when you think about it, there are just so many, many, problems.

Spoiler

 

[Esotera]

I would immediately get together with a bunch of people and form a space shipping company/cooperative. We could all get diving tanks and push rockets pretty high into the atmosphere, at which point they could then ignite. The drastic reduction in fuel costs & development would make colonisation of the universe, or at least Earth-Space, a whole lot easier.

 

[Vegosiux]

I'm going to start an extra-thick, crap-repellant raincoat business and become filthy (hah!) rich.

 

[Rowan93]

There'd be a few problems, but I wouldn't care in the least because I can fly now. Overall the world would be significantly more awesome, the side effects are generally negligible compared to how great being able to fly would be.

 

[Sack of Cheese]

All I can think about is how the criminal will make use of it.
Houses will be fenced differently now that thieves have a better way to get around the gate. There will be more places to hide from the cops too like on the roof or likewise.

And I don't get why it will limit to people. I wanna see flying sharks!

 

[Thaluikhain]

Overnight, skirts, dresses and kilts go out of fashion forever.

 

[Tiger King]

Has anyone seen that video on YouTube where a load of birds get splatted on the leading edge of a jumbos wing.....?

If anyone asks why there will still be planes flying, it's because we will still need transportation for export and imported goods.

On a less gruesome note I predict sales of the top gun soundtrack to peak as people zip about the skies having mock dogfights.

 

[Storm Dragon]

I think the best way to describe the situation is as follows:
"WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Fashion industry untaps a new market for airborne clothing.
Scratch that, EVERY industry untaps a new market for airborne-whatever. Food. Music. Sex.

 

[MiskWisk]

Goggle and face mask sales sky-rocket. After all, as any cyclist can tell you, a fly in the mouth is not pleasant.

 

[Phrozenflame500]

I'd imagine that ironically, deaths by falling will skyrocket.

Other then that, depending on the top speed of flight, transportation use will drastically plummet.

 

[Risingblade]

Crime rates would soar.

 

[Britishfan]

Somehow I would still manage to be late. For everything. Except now I wouldn't have an excuse.

 

[Duncan Belfast]

I start using MATHS to plot a course for work.
iTunes sees a surge in "Ride of the Valkyries" and "Danger Zone" downloads.
Pizza delivery becomes about a million times more fun.
Flight photography becomes a popular trend.
Flight choreography becomes a thing.
Every movie before that point becomes dated, as they don't feature people flying.
We see a wave of flight-related sports.
Guided tours become a lot more interesting.
Roof cleanliness suddenly becomes a concern.
Drug companies see a surge in anti-depressant sales.
Self-help books on how to feel happier experience a surge in popularity.
Goggle sales go through the roof.
Iron Man, Peter Pan, Neo, Harry Potter, Raven, Starfire, Superman, etc. costumes become immensely popular on halloween.