I still want my flying car. I really don’t think this will do.
New Autogyro Is An Alternative to Flying Cars
Never mind the flying car. It’s all about slowed-rotor/compound, according to Carter Aviation Technologies. SR/C is what the Texas company considers the key to a practical, personal transportation aircraft. And from the looks of its new, second-generation aircraft, Carter might be on to something.
The company’s latest flight test aircraft is a proof-of-concept version of a four-seat autogyro capable of vertical takeoff and landing. Carter has been flight-testing the aircraft and earlier this month completed a 36 minute flight, its longest yet. In addition to the size, the new aircraft reduces pilot workload by using automated systems and computer controls similar to many new aircraft…
Using the SR/C technology, the Carter autogyro can cruise more efficiently than a helicopter by using the slowed rotor and wings during level flight. Although it can’t hover like a helicopter, the ability to take off and land vertically does allow it to fly in and out of tight spots. A pusher propeller at the rear provides the thrust.
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This guy named Moller has been working on a sky car for about 30 years. But it doesn’t look like he’ll ever finish it.
It first appeared in the Clive Cussler, Atlantis Found.
The Carter Copter has been around for at least a decade…every once in a while there’s a news brief about it, then it fades away again. Maybe the new one will do better.
According to “Back To The Future 2” there’ll be flying cars and “skyways” in 2015. That’s only 4 years away.
Shouldn’t we have prototypes by now?
We can’t trust drivers to navigate properly in two dimensions, never mind three.
Forget flying cars. After the coming Dark Age ends, we’ll develop Star Trek transporters.
Not to worry. Urkel propeller hats are here today.
http://tinyurl.com/45eb9kh
This is a slicked up version (looks ready for prime time) of the more classic auto gyro designs. I’m not a fan of the tilt rotor concept, as any engine trouble, or hang up in the tilt gearing and you can’t land. The neat thing about the more classic design is you have a good glide ratio and can land on a very short runway in an engine out situation. I have always wanted to build a kit plane and the auto gyro is at the top of my list for such a project.
It looks overbuilt. Something like it but light and relatively simple and inexpensive would be fun for desert camping.
Hey, I wouldn’t count the Moller Skycar out yet. They acutally do have a working model. You can see it doing a hover test flight in this video: Moller Skycar. And, before you poo-poo the video, Yes, the sky car is attached to a crane for safety purposes; it is a requirment of their insurance company. The crane is not lifting the car; if you look closely you will see the line is slack as the car lifts off.
As I understand it, the development of the Skycar was delayed for 3 years because someone at the FEC decided that the whole thing was a scam and tried to prosecute Moller for fraud. However, he has successfully won the case since he was able to demonstrate that he has a working model.
As for trusting people to fly the thing, supposedly therere will be two options. You can either get a pilot’s license, or you can let the car’s computer fly for you. Both options have already been approved by the FAA. Indeed, the FAA has created a special pilot classification for VTOL light vehicles such as this. BTW, If and when this goes into development, I mean to buy one.
I’ve heard Moller on the radio, and he talks a good game, and he seems to have a prototype that’s at least somewhat functional. But he’s years late in the delivery of a final product, even though he’s been taking deposits on pre-sales since 2003. It’s reasonable to be skeptical. I’ve known some people that are intelligent and sincere and do amazing demonstrations, but they endlessly tinker and “improve”, and are apparently emotionally incapable of crossing the finish line. I’m not saying Paul Moller is such a person; I don’t know him well enough. But it seems a possibility.
I figure we’ll soon be removing the human element from driving. You remember the “Johnny Cab” from the Total Recall movie? Something like that.
Speaking of Caligula…today is the anniversary of his assassination at the hands of his own guards in 41 A.D.