Flying car

Poster here before, I think. Still, a way better idea than Terraflugia, and probably more viable, especially since it isn't easy to lay your hands on a manufactured gyrocopter in the first place.
 
I like the look of this one.

A PAL-V ONE flies exactly like a gyrocopter, which is the easiest and safest way of flying
Click to expand...
can anyone with gyrocopter knowledge/experience comment on that claim?
 
How fast does it flies and what range? I can carry four and luggage on a Ford Mustang and consistenly do 80 mph on I-95 for 400sm without getting a ticket.

José
 
I've got some time in a Benson B-8M. There's nothing inherently wrong with the concept of the gyrocopter in terms of safe flight, but the execution so far has been rather haphazard.
 
Gyrocopters are inherently safe as long as you obey the basic laws of rotorborne flight. (ie. keep rotor speed inside the envelope)

However this looks more like a fun toy. Practical commuter for some perhaps.
 
The rotor on a gyro is free-wheeling, other than completely unloading the rotor in flight by a zero G parabola(no one would do that on purpose), the pilot has no control over the speed. It's set by the angle of the rotor blade on the hub. Generally, the rotor blade will break off the hub before it would overspeed on a high G pull out.
 
I think the Maverick is the most workable flying car solution yet. Yes obiously it is not faster then a Bonanza.
 
Piloto said:
How fast does it flies and what range? I can carry four and luggage on a Ford Mustang and consistenly do 80 mph on I-95 for 400sm without getting a ticket.

José
Click to expand...

The specs page covers that. 112mph and a range of 220 - 315 miles.
 
\__[Ô]__/;1092981 said:
I like the look of this one.

can anyone with gyrocopter knowledge/experience comment on that claim?
Click to expand...

Some of the early gyrocopters (and some of those as used machines are still around) could get in an unrecoverable situation, literally nothing the pilot could do except ride it to the crash.

I'm just a guy reading and looking, without any real aeronautical experience. Take this for what it is worth: When I was looking into buying a used gyrocopter, and looking at them in person, the "suspect" designs, always had the pilot's seat (and his center of mass) well below the thrust line of the propeller. Some of the older designs had been modified so the pilot looked like he was sitting on a high chair, perhaps to mitigate the problem.

More here:

http://www.eaa.org/lightplaneworld/articles/1102_gyroplanes.asp

Extract from above: "Virtually all new kits sold in the United States today are stable, PPO-resistant or PPO-proof designs. Unfortunately, used gyroplanes that are pitch unstable can still be found for sale in the United States, or even new in other countries.
 
docmirror said:
The rotor on a gyro is free-wheeling, other than completely unloading the rotor in flight by a zero G parabola(no one would do that on purpose), the pilot has no control over the speed. It's set by the angle of the rotor blade on the hub. Generally, the rotor blade will break off the hub before it would overspeed on a high G pull out.
Click to expand...

Yes. I was referring to keeping the rotor speed HIGH enough. No speed, no lift. (And there is no nifty twisty thing on a collective to make it speed up.) :no: Most of the gyro incidents I have read about involved losing rotor speed in a steep turn or by flaring too high and not having time to get the disc back in the lift mode before running out of altitude.
 
Would not call that a car but still is very cool.
 
It's not a flying car, it's a flying motorcycle.

And in the US, that's a real advantage because all of the safety rules about bumpers, airbags, etc., do not apply to motorcycles, making it far easier to keep the weight down.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top