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I am a motorcycle nut and aviation nut since birth. I’ve also jumped out of a dozen aircraft types via static line and ram air free fall chutes. And I enjoy p

I am a motorcycle nut and aviation nut since birth. I’ve also jumped out of a dozen aircraft types via static line and ram air free fall chutes. And I enjoy paragliding. There’s nothing more I would like to see than a new form of personal flight. However, I don’t see the viability of this thing at all. Likely due to my having been in close proximity to the Martin Jetpack slow motion disaster over the last decade. Reliability, repeatability, infallibility, safety, Certification, and classification. All tall barriers to entry for recreational/commercial/civil aviation. What would excite me would be an autonomous vertical lifting body that can lift a 200kg box over 200km, using 5-6 high reliability motors that can survive the failure of 1 or 2 motors as a result of mechanical failure or enemy fire. For use in both commercial and military applications. A reliable, agile, boring container carrier. An oversized coffin shaped container that can fit 80%+ of high value commercial and military and commercial items, including personnel/casualty CASEVAC. Why are we not building an autonomous platform around the carriage of a specifically calculated cube container? Like a mini aerial 20ft or 40ft shipping container.

tomcam 8y ago
Tons of interesting material in your comment. It actually sounds like you’ve just cooked up a viable start up idea. One issue I don’t see addressed in any of these modes of transportation is the enormous amount of noise the jet engines produce. Any insights on that?
- chriselles 8y ago
  My thoughts are to stick with electric motors powering props/rotors over jet engines. But they still produce a fair bit of noise, however much less than jet turbines. My guess is that drone rotor prop design can incorporate noise reduction potential(including shrouds), but they will also have to be balanced against lift/thrust performance and additional weight offsetting payload/range. I can easily imagine a future where residential drone delivery raises considerable concerns over not just safety, but noise, perhaps with associated minimum flight altitude floors to reduce ground signature. But that will have an impact on drone payload/range as well. Possibly an analog debate to electric scooters, lower congestion but higher personal injury rate.
lioeters 8y ago
Fascinating! It's not a "sexy" idea, but it sounds practical and technically feasible (from how you describe it). I especially like that tolerance to failure is built in the design.
- chriselles 8y ago
  Boring pays the bills all too often in life. In my limited experience with drones, 5/6 rotor drones appear to be more survivable/recoverable if the drone suffers a single rotor failure.
ccozan 8y ago
Actually the idea is quite similar to the "container" in the Agents of Shield [1]. A bit visionary. [1] https://marvelcinematicuniverse.fandom.com/wiki/Containment_Module https://marvelcinematicuniverse.fandom.com/wiki/Containment_... EDIT: there are jets small which could be attached to a rectangular frame. But I don't see where this can be used commercially? With what could you connect up in the air?
- chriselles 8y ago
  Hi, My thoughts are more along the lines of a 5 or 6 electric prop motor drone along the lines of Griff Aviation drones. Applications would be: Military: 200kg, 200km range/100km radius would provide low cost rapid vertical logistics and CASEVAC to sub units that is desperately needed. Commercial: regional city pair rapid logistics for critical 1 hour delivery.

tomcam 8y ago

Tons of interesting material in your comment. It actually sounds like you’ve just cooked up a viable start up idea. One issue I don’t see addressed in any of these modes of transportation is the enormous amount of noise the jet engines produce. Any insights on that?

chriselles 8y ago
My thoughts are to stick with electric motors powering props/rotors over jet engines. But they still produce a fair bit of noise, however much less than jet turbines. My guess is that drone rotor prop design can incorporate noise reduction potential(including shrouds), but they will also have to be balanced against lift/thrust performance and additional weight offsetting payload/range. I can easily imagine a future where residential drone delivery raises considerable concerns over not just safety, but noise, perhaps with associated minimum flight altitude floors to reduce ground signature. But that will have an impact on drone payload/range as well. Possibly an analog debate to electric scooters, lower congestion but higher personal injury rate.

lioeters 8y ago

Fascinating! It's not a "sexy" idea, but it sounds practical and technically feasible (from how you describe it). I especially like that tolerance to failure is built in the design.

chriselles 8y ago
Boring pays the bills all too often in life. In my limited experience with drones, 5/6 rotor drones appear to be more survivable/recoverable if the drone suffers a single rotor failure.

ccozan 8y ago

Actually the idea is quite similar to the "container" in the Agents of Shield [1]. A bit visionary. [1] https://marvelcinematicuniverse.fandom.com/wiki/Containment_Module https://marvelcinematicuniverse.fandom.com/wiki/Containment_... EDIT: there are jets small which could be attached to a rectangular frame. But I don't see where this can be used commercially? With what could you connect up in the air?

chriselles 8y ago
Hi, My thoughts are more along the lines of a 5 or 6 electric prop motor drone along the lines of Griff Aviation drones. Applications would be: Military: 200kg, 200km range/100km radius would provide low cost rapid vertical logistics and CASEVAC to sub units that is desperately needed. Commercial: regional city pair rapid logistics for critical 1 hour delivery.