dm 9 Posted April 3, 2012 will any country allow thier use by the public? I hope none. ~50,000 die a year on the roads in the US alone, and they're only driving in TWO dimensions, imagine the carnage if you let "average joe" (with an IQ of 6) behind the "wheel" of a flying car... Flak guns and a re-inforced roof will be en-vogue for home modification if this is the case. There is a very specific reason that it is much MUCH harder to get a pilots licence than a drivers... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
max power 21 Posted April 3, 2012 Maximum Power to you.... I don't agree to that... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PELHAM 10 Posted April 3, 2012 What? Not a reference to you, it's a term in common usage round our way? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
max power 21 Posted April 3, 2012 I know. I was joking. Couldn't you tell by my facial expression? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dead3yez 0 Posted April 3, 2012 I hope none.~50,000 die a year on the roads in the US alone, and they're only driving in TWO dimensions, imagine the carnage if you let "average joe" (with an IQ of 6) behind the "wheel" of a flying car... Flak guns and a re-inforced roof will be en-vogue for home modification if this is the case. There is a very specific reason that it is much MUCH harder to get a pilots licence than a drivers... Well, at least it'd be good plan for population control. :D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
4 IN 1 0 Posted April 3, 2012 Drive like......... a sport car? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tonci87 163 Posted April 3, 2012 Does this vehicle need a few hundred meters of road to take off? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PELHAM 10 Posted April 3, 2012 (edited) Does this vehicle need a few hundred meters of road to take off? It depends, most Autogyros can spin up the unpowered rotors to operating speed with a PTO device. That combined with a nice strong head wind can reduce the T/O run to almost nothing. If they start without powering up the rotors they need up to 200m depending on the aircraft type and weather conditions. They will never allow this to take off from the public road though, spinning rotors in a puplic place - yikes! A few years ago a game keeper had an issue with an autogyro being used to monitor fox hunting as it was flying low and spooking horses. He was killed when he walked into the rear prop while going to confront the pilot. I saw this same aircraft a month earlier over the Yorkshire Wolds flying at 150 feet while I was out walking. So they can be a severe hazard to bystanders. Edited April 3, 2012 by PELHAM Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rksl-rock 1300 Posted April 24, 2012 I saw this video on the BBC website and was immediately reminded of a point brought up in this thread regarding the wing area required to lift a man etc. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17754246 Look at the wing span and the amount of flex in this wing. And this guy is not exactly a big lad. And not to mention the effort hes having to provide to get the speed to fly. And here's the BBC Blog about it all: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/tv/2012/04/bang-human-powered-plane.shtml All rather interesting stuff, but it does nicely highlight the issue of mass vs wing area vs power discussed earlier. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
.Taffy 10 Posted June 16, 2012 I don't imagine that this will come as a suprise to most of you but Jarno Smeets "The Flying Dutchman" has admitted it was a hoax and that he is in fact an animation artist. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17487282 EDIT: I also realise that this is a couple of months old now, but was for some reason featured in BBCs video list. :o Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mrcash2009 0 Posted June 16, 2012 Hehe, it might be an older thread but a relevant reason to post & finish it off nicely :) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites