An Airbus flying car prototype will be airborne by end of 2017

[Dashers]

You can't mask the noise, there are some situations where it is improved, but if it was practical to do it generally then military helicopters wouldn't make such a racket.

Zeppelins and Blimps are nothing new, and you'll note, rather big. And of course, need helium (which has a habit of leaving the planet) to stay aloft. I suspect airships will make a return, but not as a flying "car" sort of market, but more of an Amazon need to ship lots of stuff up and down the country sort of way.

[Ttaskmaster]

You can't mask the noise, there are some situations where it is improved, but if it was practical to do it generally then military helicopters wouldn't make such a racket.

It's perfectly practical - The Comanche was pretty good at cutting down the noise, as I recall - The signature Dugg-dugg-dugg-dugg-dugg-dugg of a helicopter was from the main and tail rotors' interacting forces, so this one shielded the tail and made it pretty darn hushed... it's just the changing requirements, diversion of funds to UAV programs and stupid cost-cutting attempts that made it a bean-counter's victim... and the contract cancellation penalties of about $700 billion, of course!!