So The Three Amigos had their egos slapped in Washington for arriving at the moneyfest in their corporate jets? Like other critics I railed at this flagrant abuse of funds while secretly envying them the opportunity. That's because I love airplanes and living next to an international airport get to see those sleek birds landing and taking off every day. Perhaps General Motors has always been fascinated with flight. Take a look at the 1958 Firebird III concept above. It seemed ready to take off the moment its Whirlfire GT-305 gas turbine engine fired up. The skin was made of titanium. It had moveable spoilers to act as air brakes and featured double-bubble canopies, plus seven short wings and fins developed in the wind tunnel. Steering control was via a joystick mounted between the seats. On Thursday the executives of GM, Ford and Chrysler are invited to show Washington that they have progressive ideas for the future. Fifty years ago, they really did. Unfortunately those ideas wouldn't fly.

[Photo: General Motors]