Moller Skycar - Crowd funding

[Skoshi_Tiger]

http://vimeo.com/77999959#at=0

 

$15,000 and you get to be one of the first people in the world to log time in command of a 'Power Lift' aircraft. I might have to wait till my lotto numbers come in for that one, but I've put in for a mug and a tshirt!

 

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/actually-fly-the-m400x-skycar-into-history

 

http://moller.com/dev/

[Sternjaeger]

is this con still going on?! lol 

[Skoshi_Tiger]

is this con still going on?! lol

Way I see it is if they can stick to their timelines this will be flying before BoS goes retail.

 

One way or another it will be easy to prove.

 

To infinity and Beyond.......!

 

See ya space Kiddets!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIayjoPCt1M

Edited November 7, 2013 by Skoshi_Tiger

[AndyJWest]

Where's the Robot Butler kickstarter?

[Sternjaeger]

nah mate, that thing was designed with 50s sci-fi in mind and is one huge engineering cock-up. 

[HeavyCavalrySgt]

is this con still going on?! lol 

The guy has had his share of controversy!

[Sternjaeger]

http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?p=1088085

 

just look at it: how can you control and fly something like that in an efficient and easy manner? It's old technology, poorly put together and after decades (I was 10 when I read of this first!!) he still didn't manage to make anything out of it.

Besides, in a country where military industry investors have such a strong presence and invest a lot in R&D, you think nobody would have picked this up and make it work? It's a scam, pure and simple.

[AndyJWest]

I think I prefer the Moller Discojet - from 1974. http://www.downside.com/scams/moller/

[Skoshi_Tiger]

Moller wasn’t the only one that had issues trying to develop the disk type flying saucers. I think the term is Aerodyne????

 

 

 

Avro

 

 

 

 

One of the more expensive ground effect vehicles!

 

 

 

The main issues with a project like this would be power/weight ratio and control systems. There have been a lot of improvements with composites and fly-by-wire systems in the last thirty years, so I’ld expect the issues aren’t insurmountable.

 

 

 

I expect getting insurance on a vehicle like this would be fairly expensive.

 

 

 

Oh! With the prototype untethered flight date of the project The Moller website puts it as June 2014, BOS release date is at “Spring 2014” So that’s sometime between 20 March-19 June So my previous remark could be in error. My bad!

 

 

Besides, in a country where military industry investors have such a strong presence and invest a lot in R&D, you think nobody would have picked this up and make it work? It's a scam, pure and simple.

Osprey - tilt wing pivot - One Thousand Million Dollars! F-22 over budget over time. Normally I don't go into conspiracy theories, but I'd say the Military industry investors have a vested intrest in keeping the status quo. The US tax payers just keep throwing money at these people.

 

Over here in Australia our F-111 fleet has been retired on the understanding that they'd be replaced with F35's - Now theres a scam. How long untill we get them another decade?

Edited November 8, 2013 by Skoshi_Tiger

[AndyJWest]

 

 

The main issues with a project like this would be power/weight ratio and control systems.

 

And reliability. And expense. And figuring out what exactly it is for. You need a heliport to take off from. It has a top speed on the road of 30 mph (or at least, it will do if they figure out how to drive the wheels: another engine to add to the 8 it has already? Or some complex system to disconnect the fan and drive the wheels using existing engines?)  If you can afford this, you can afford to hire a car to drive you to the heliport. And you can afford a helicopter...

[Skoshi_Tiger]

And reliability. And expense. And figuring out what exactly it is for. You need a heliport to take off from. It has a top speed on the road of 30 mph (or at least, it will do if they figure out how to drive the wheels: another engine to add to the 8 it has already? Or some complex system to disconnect the fan and drive the wheels using existing engines?)  If you can afford this, you can afford to hire a car to drive you to the heliport. And you can afford a helicopter...

Good points, Noise would be a huge issue too in built up areas.

 

But if you look at the alternatives like the Terrafugia where you do actually have to drive to a airport. For me that would be 30km through traffic to the nearest and 60km to the nearest GA Airport. That isn't practical at all.

 

There are alot more options available for a VTOL craft.  We've had helcopters land at the park 100 metres away from my house.

Cheers!

[Sternjaeger]

this is the only truly working flying car

 

[Skoshi_Tiger]

You've also got things like the Terrafugia

 

 

But it's just not the same idea.

[Sternjaeger]

yeah Skoshi, but what's the Moller Skycar idea exactly? I could never quite wrap my head around it..

[AndyJWest]

Yeah. What exactly is it for? Under what circumstances does it offer significant advantages over existing options?

[Skoshi_Tiger]

In his TEDS talkhe talks about in the long run, reducing congestion, making transport more efficient both for energy and time for 50 mile plus trips so if you've got a spare 15 minutes here his talk about vision and the project. 

 

 

As a pilot it's not too exciting because the sky cars will eventually be computer and GPS controlled, so the pilot won't have too much control except for planning the flight.

Edited November 8, 2013 by Skoshi_Tiger

[MiG21bisFishbedL]

You've also got things like the Terrafugia

 

 

But it's just not the same idea.

It's also an overpriced turd without any appeal to an operator. For the kind of cash the Transition costs, I could go out and get me a very nice car, an AT-6, and still have about $150,000 left over. A $15,000 Kitfox out performs it in the air. Not to mention the Transition's performance in the sky is pretty naff and is made doubly horrible by LSA restrictions.

 

His TEDTalk left much to be desired. For all his bluster about solving congestion, surely the MAGLEV train would be a superior option. That wouldn't be out-of-commission come a stormy day, too.

Edited November 8, 2013 by MiG21bisFishbedL

[Skoshi_Tiger]

His TEDTalk left much to be desired. For all his bluster about solving congestion, surely the MAGLEV train would be a superior option. That wouldn't be out-of-commission come a stormy day, too.

 

Did I hear some say Monorail?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVqVdQYC44Y

 

 

[71st_AH_Mastiff]

yea remember the Hudsucker?