Opposite the Landspeeder is a powered mini hovercraft where children can experience first-hand how difficult it is to steer a vehicle when there is no direct contact with the ground.

"There has always been talk in science fiction of personal vehicles that move in three dimensions rather than two dimensions," Connell said. "The Moller Skycar is an attempt to get the vertical thrust. All we want is a cross between a helicopter and a plane. There are two different types of movement."

Also at the exhibition is the rotorwing -- a combination of helicopter and plane. At a certain speed the rotor shuts down for aeroplane-style motion.

"And the SpaceShipOne space plane is what our mates at Virgin Atlantic want to take people into space with. This is a reusable rocket," Connell said.

"So I think it may well be a while before we have something like the Landspeeder, but it is something we are interested in and people are looking at all the options."