So how many of us have one of these?
http://www.moller.com/skycar/m400/
Oh yeah, we're pilots n/m....
What do you think of this? Could this be the death of us?
Flying Cars
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iwillflyajet
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Clothesliner
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This prototype has been around for a while. The designer of this thing envisions these vehicles in the future as common and prevalent as cars are today. Similar to a Harrier, eh? Yeah, those things are a real snap to fly... I'm sure I could do it with my eyes closed! 
The complexity of the systems required for these automated skycars running on "highways in the sky" to take people from one place to another at the touch of a button is still very much in the pipe dream stage, I'd say.
The complexity of the systems required for these automated skycars running on "highways in the sky" to take people from one place to another at the touch of a button is still very much in the pipe dream stage, I'd say.
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Hotel Tango
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And of course the other factors. You see drivers making bad decisions all the time! People will drive in weather they shouldn't because they've gotta get there!
It's hard enough to get trained pilots to make the right decision. Imagine what will happen now if we let the average Joe have a flying car on days with thunderstorms, icing, strong winds and other questionable weather? Without a built in idiot proofing system, a lot of people are going to get hurt. But if you do idiot proof it (i.e. Not let people "drive" when the weather is bad) people will realize that they can't use the vehicle when they want to so we'll all end up back in cars.
You can teach a monkey to fly an airplane (I've been told), the hard part I think will be allowing these "drivers" to make decisions.
Oh yeah, what happens when something fails? Doesn't look like it can glide that well. People will no longer be able to pull over because the car they don't maintain breaks down. Or they ran out of gas (even though there's a gas station on ever corner) because gas went up a dime and they wanted to wait to fill up. Instead we'll have REALLY COOL looking bricks falling from 30,000'.
People are going to start thinking I'm a very pessimistic person. Next post is going to be positive!
It's hard enough to get trained pilots to make the right decision. Imagine what will happen now if we let the average Joe have a flying car on days with thunderstorms, icing, strong winds and other questionable weather? Without a built in idiot proofing system, a lot of people are going to get hurt. But if you do idiot proof it (i.e. Not let people "drive" when the weather is bad) people will realize that they can't use the vehicle when they want to so we'll all end up back in cars.
You can teach a monkey to fly an airplane (I've been told), the hard part I think will be allowing these "drivers" to make decisions.
Oh yeah, what happens when something fails? Doesn't look like it can glide that well. People will no longer be able to pull over because the car they don't maintain breaks down. Or they ran out of gas (even though there's a gas station on ever corner) because gas went up a dime and they wanted to wait to fill up. Instead we'll have REALLY COOL looking bricks falling from 30,000'.
People are going to start thinking I'm a very pessimistic person. Next post is going to be positive!
Thats very true.
People can hardly drive, it's scary to think if everyone could fly... And I'm sure there would be a total lack of reponsibility. There would be a lack of willingness to learn what to do in emergancies.... I feel better now, thank you
(or very scared Im not sure which )
People can hardly drive, it's scary to think if everyone could fly... And I'm sure there would be a total lack of reponsibility. There would be a lack of willingness to learn what to do in emergancies.... I feel better now, thank you
(or very scared Im not sure which )-
sidestick stirrer
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Anyone want to go look in CARs and tell me what the definition of an "aircraft" is, and "fly."This capability plus the added safety of ducted fans makes it ideal for a wide variety of commercial and military applications. These include private and charter air travel, express delivery, news gathering, border patrol, police and fire work, and search and rescue, to name just a few.
And at what altitude you need a "flying" license.
You need a balloon license and a helicopter license, so I'm guessing they won't be letting just any "joe somebody" with a "drivers" license to "fly" one of these, so they'll need a license, lol, so if they need a chopper license to fly one, lol thats another 30k they need to spend to "fly" and if we let them "fly" it with a fixed wing it's 10k. IFR's 10k in each field.
Secondly, AME's will be making a killing cause owners won't be able to take it to their local Mech but instead an AME.
NavCan will be making it's 75$/yr grab on each 'vehicle"
And good luck "driving" in IFR wx, looks like you're stuck on the ground friend....
Far Far Far away...highways in the sky" to take people from one place to another at the touch of a button is still very much in the pipe dream stage, I'd say.
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Flying Low
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Always remember...as soon as they build something "idiot proof" they also build a better idiot! This idea is a long way off.
"The ability to ditch an airplane in the Hudson does not qualify a pilot for a pay raise. The ability to get the pilots, with this ability, to work for 30% or 40% pay cuts qualifies those in management for millions in bonuses."
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LostinRotation
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Just looking at the aerodynamics of this thing and how it would operate.... I'd love to see it A) Not fall out of the sky and B) See someone operate it with an engine out.
I've seen this for some time now. They were supposed to have a televised flight including transition to cruise... still waiting.
-=0=LIR=0=-
I've seen this for some time now. They were supposed to have a televised flight including transition to cruise... still waiting.
-=0=LIR=0=-
Sometimes I think it's a shame when I get feelin' better when I'm feelin no pain.
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Hotel Tango
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It looks cool and might be a great little experimental aircraft but I wouldn't want anyone I know on it. It just doesn't look like it has the redundency for mass use. Imagine what happens if just one fan fails.
At least a conventional airplane can glide and the guys/gals up front air trained to handle emergencies. Flying machines for the masses is not going to happen with this design.
At least a conventional airplane can glide and the guys/gals up front air trained to handle emergencies. Flying machines for the masses is not going to happen with this design.
It's been in the works for a long time now. New and shiny things are great, but from where I stand it sounds like a pipe dream.
The other (bigger) problem that I see is that most folks have a hard time with situational awareness in two dimensions. They don't pay attention, they make poor choices, and their judgement is suspect. Do we really want to give them another dimension to worry about?
The other (bigger) problem that I see is that most folks have a hard time with situational awareness in two dimensions. They don't pay attention, they make poor choices, and their judgement is suspect. Do we really want to give them another dimension to worry about?
Please don't tell my mother that I work in the Oilpatch...she still thinks that I'm the piano player at a whorehouse.
Was in an issue of the national post that it was being sold in one of those rich ppl catalogs for like 3.5mil, and here on his site http://www.moller.com/news/pressrelease/skycarsale.html
