3 ms·

So in the next 8 months? Seems like Google has an interesting pipeline of novel new products, but I wonder if any this will ever see the light of day, let alone

So in the next 8 months? Seems like Google has an interesting pipeline of novel new products, but I wonder if any this will ever see the light of day, let alone by the end of the year. I wonder why Google is doing all this pre-launch marketing hype. Usually this is the playbook that startups use to hype up VCs for funding rounds. Maybe just for PR and branding? Reminds me of UBeam's "we plan on launching publicly this year!" (said in 2015, 2016, and now 2017)

maxerickson 9y ago
No price, no information about how long the battery lasts. https://kittyhawk.aero/faq/ https://kittyhawk.aero/faq/ I expect it will barely be a product when it launches, certainly not one with wide appeal.
- elmar 9y ago
  am working on a Startup with a similar aproach but using a fixed wing vehicle. I speculate the kitty hawk vehicle will have 10-15 minutes airtime and will cost around $100k. It will appeal to a very niche market of deep pocket hobbyists.
  - turc1656 9y ago
    Yup. The site's FAQ page says that while you don't require a pilot's license, it is designed to be flown over freshwater in non-congested areas. That's pretty limiting. There goes my dream of commuting to work like a boss in half the time.
    - elmar 9y ago
      this is only to avoid problems with the FAA, "non-congested areas" it's a fluid concept that basicly can mean whatever the FAA needs it to be. You can try your luck and fly around with this thing as you would with any other ultralight. a good post on the subject http://eaaforums.org/showthread.php?5261-Part-103-quot-congested-quot-amp-Part-91/page2 http://eaaforums.org/showthread.php?5261-Part-103-quot-conge...
      - turc1656 9y ago
        Very interesting. So it seems like a craft/vehicle such as this can get away with flying in congested areas because of it's maneuverability. What's more, we have a helipad on my building at ground level! And we happen to be on the water! I wonder if I could actually pull this off at some point in the future where I fly over the water and land directly on the helipad. Would need a place to keep the craft, though.
        elmar 9y ago
        well my startup is bulding an electrical self-flying fixed wing part 103 compliant for $40k, much more versatile than Kitty http://bit.ly/2pdeml5 http://bit.ly/2pdeml5 we will be doing pre-sales soon, maybe you would like to be an early adopter. It can be adapted with floats if you wish.
      - elmar 9y ago
        https://www.engadget.com/2017/04/24/kitty-hawk-flying-car/ https://www.engadget.com/2017/04/24/kitty-hawk-flying-car/ "The focus on over-water flights is intentional -- it's meant to reassure Federal Aviation Administration officials worried that unlicensed pilots will be flying over populated areas. The company wants to work with the FAA to enable more ambitious vehicles, but it would rather play it safe in the early stages."
TulliusCicero 9y ago
This isn't Google/Alphabet, Larry Page is personally funding this startup.
deleted 9y ago
[deleted]

maxerickson 9y ago

No price, no information about how long the battery lasts. https://kittyhawk.aero/faq/ https://kittyhawk.aero/faq/ I expect it will barely be a product when it launches, certainly not one with wide appeal.

elmar 9y ago
am working on a Startup with a similar aproach but using a fixed wing vehicle. I speculate the kitty hawk vehicle will have 10-15 minutes airtime and will cost around $100k. It will appeal to a very niche market of deep pocket hobbyists.
- turc1656 9y ago
  Yup. The site's FAQ page says that while you don't require a pilot's license, it is designed to be flown over freshwater in non-congested areas. That's pretty limiting. There goes my dream of commuting to work like a boss in half the time.
  - elmar 9y ago
    this is only to avoid problems with the FAA, "non-congested areas" it's a fluid concept that basicly can mean whatever the FAA needs it to be. You can try your luck and fly around with this thing as you would with any other ultralight. a good post on the subject http://eaaforums.org/showthread.php?5261-Part-103-quot-congested-quot-amp-Part-91/page2 http://eaaforums.org/showthread.php?5261-Part-103-quot-conge...
    - turc1656 9y ago
      Very interesting. So it seems like a craft/vehicle such as this can get away with flying in congested areas because of it's maneuverability. What's more, we have a helipad on my building at ground level! And we happen to be on the water! I wonder if I could actually pull this off at some point in the future where I fly over the water and land directly on the helipad. Would need a place to keep the craft, though.
      - elmar 9y ago
        well my startup is bulding an electrical self-flying fixed wing part 103 compliant for $40k, much more versatile than Kitty http://bit.ly/2pdeml5 http://bit.ly/2pdeml5 we will be doing pre-sales soon, maybe you would like to be an early adopter. It can be adapted with floats if you wish.
    - elmar 9y ago
      https://www.engadget.com/2017/04/24/kitty-hawk-flying-car/ https://www.engadget.com/2017/04/24/kitty-hawk-flying-car/ "The focus on over-water flights is intentional -- it's meant to reassure Federal Aviation Administration officials worried that unlicensed pilots will be flying over populated areas. The company wants to work with the FAA to enable more ambitious vehicles, but it would rather play it safe in the early stages."

TulliusCicero 9y ago

This isn't Google/Alphabet, Larry Page is personally funding this startup.

deleted 9y ago

[deleted]