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I'm sorry to bring a cart of wet blankets but this is not a good idea. It must do nothing well because of conflicting requirements between air (low weight and c

I'm sorry to bring a cart of wet blankets but this is not a good idea. It must do nothing well because of conflicting requirements between air (low weight and constant speed engine), road (heavy gear like collision protection, transmission, road tires, etc), and lugging all that Transformer magic around. You have to drive to an airport in order to fly to another airport with limited range, and then drive again. Personal door-to-door aviation is here already: multirotors with what's basically drone software are going to explode in range and utility. The regulations will need to catch up. Kurt Moller had it right but couldn't execute on the vision.

skanga 6y ago
Who said that it NEEDS to do it "well"? The fact that it can do it at all is great! This may not be for everyone, but it is exactly how progress is made and mankind moves forward ...
- MikeAmelung 6y ago
  I've got some bad news: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roadable_aircraft https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roadable_aircraft It's been done. It's a stupid idea.
  - skanga 6y ago
    It's been "done" is the worst reason to stop working on anything. Think - it can be "made better". Again - that is how mankind progresses forward ...
nradov 6y ago
Powered lift aircraft will be unable to provide widespread personal door-to-door aviation. Even if the flight control, endurance, and regulatory problems can be solved they can't safely take off or land anywhere near trees, tall buildings, or overhead power lines.
- nine_k 6y ago
  Same applies to winged aircraft. I'm fine with having dedicated landing pads, much like we have dedicated parking lots.
  - imglorp 6y ago
    Right. Some of the drone delivery services are going this route. Set up a pad with a little clearance and the machine will spot its marker. You don't need a ton of clearance. It's far different than a 1000m runway with all the support infra.
sokoloff 6y ago
Not only that, but I don’t want to put my airplane at risk of a fender bender that leaves it unairworthy 600 miles from home. Solution in search of a problem is what I see.

skanga 6y ago

Who said that it NEEDS to do it "well"? The fact that it can do it at all is great! This may not be for everyone, but it is exactly how progress is made and mankind moves forward ...

MikeAmelung 6y ago
I've got some bad news: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roadable_aircraft https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roadable_aircraft It's been done. It's a stupid idea.
- skanga 6y ago
  It's been "done" is the worst reason to stop working on anything. Think - it can be "made better". Again - that is how mankind progresses forward ...

nradov 6y ago

Powered lift aircraft will be unable to provide widespread personal door-to-door aviation. Even if the flight control, endurance, and regulatory problems can be solved they can't safely take off or land anywhere near trees, tall buildings, or overhead power lines.

nine_k 6y ago
Same applies to winged aircraft. I'm fine with having dedicated landing pads, much like we have dedicated parking lots.
- imglorp 6y ago
  Right. Some of the drone delivery services are going this route. Set up a pad with a little clearance and the machine will spot its marker. You don't need a ton of clearance. It's far different than a 1000m runway with all the support infra.

sokoloff 6y ago

Not only that, but I don’t want to put my airplane at risk of a fender bender that leaves it unairworthy 600 miles from home. Solution in search of a problem is what I see.