Saw this on Reuters the other day. They say it is really inexpensive
and may be compared to a Sikorsky, Bell... but probably still more than
I have. Still, would be fun to take for a spin if they get to building
the full size model:

===
U.S. Defense Department to develop UK hoverbike by Jim Drury

The dream of a manned, truly functional hoverbike is a step closer to
reality after British and American engineers announced a deal with the
U.S. Department of Defense to develop and build the vehicle in the
States...

Full article:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/...0P21C720150622

Video:

http://www.reuters.com/video/2015/06...technologyNews


--
Leon Fisk
Grand Rapids MI/Zone 5b
Remove no.spam for email

Leon Fisk wrote:

Saw this on Reuters the other day. They say it is really inexpensive
and may be compared to a Sikorsky, Bell... but probably still more than
I have. Still, would be fun to take for a spin if they get to building
the full size model:

This appears to be mostly a quadcopter scaled up big enough to lift one
person. I think probably a good tinkerer could build one himself. One
problem, of course, is if you have a motor fail, you;d need some way to
safely get back on the ground. That's not a problem that is likely to be
easily solved. Possibly it could be set up with enough reserve capacity of
the motors that it could still fly on 3, or at least coast to the ground
while maintaining the right side up.

Jon

Jon Elson fired this volley in news:xIqdnedoO90
:

That's not a problem that is likely to be
easily solved.

'Already solved' is the operative, Jon. Ultralight flyers have had a
deployable 'recovery parachute' system in place for a couple or three
decades.

It employs a ballistic tube-launch of the 'chute past any rotating
obstructions on the aircraft.

Lloyd

On Wed, 24 Jun 2015 09:55:46 -0400, Leon Fisk
wrote:

Saw this on Reuters the other day. They say it is really inexpensive
and may be compared to a Sikorsky, Bell... but probably still more than
I have. Still, would be fun to take for a spin if they get to building
the full size model:

===
U.S. Defense Department to develop UK hoverbike by Jim Drury

The dream of a manned, truly functional hoverbike is a step closer to
reality after British and American engineers announced a deal with the
U.S. Department of Defense to develop and build the vehicle in the
States...

Full article:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/...0P21C720150622

Video:

http://www.reuters.com/video/2015/06...technologyNews


Great Shades of Speeder Bikes on Endor!!!

Kewl! indeed!

Its **** like this that simply tickles the hell out of me.

Gunner