Gyrocopters / AutoGyros

[Mr Dave]

http://www.axtd59.dsl.pipex.com/webdoc2.htm

Under one of the autogiros it says parts were used to repair little Nellie after it's 1986 crash but that is the only thing I can find about it.

I'm quite impressed ken wallis used to fly B-36s with strategic air command.

[henrycrun]

on the BBC news - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17592648

[Eric Mc]

My favourite development of the concept -

[dr_gn]

henrycrun said:

on the BBC news - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17592648

How much money are the flying car brigade going to piss away before they realise it's actually a fairly pointless concept?

[Globs]

dr_gn said:

henrycrun said:

on the BBC news - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17592648

How much money are the flying car brigade going to piss away before they realise it's actually a fairly pointless concept?

Actually, it's completely awesome!!

[Mr_B]

Looks really good actually. Pity they didn't bother to report on how quickly and easily it all folds away, as that's going to be critical....along with the cost.

[dr_gn]

Mr_B said:

Looks really good actually. Pity they didn't bother to report on how quickly and easily it all folds away, as that's going to be critical....along with the cost.

How exactly does he expect people to "fly past a traffic jam" when they'd need a 160m long clear runway to take off?

[RizzoTheRat]

The point of something like that, (and the Butterfly LLC Skycycle is a similar concept) is that you can park it at home, drive to an air strip, fly to another air strip, and then drive to your destination. Far more convenient than any other form of flight where you have to get to the airfield in one vehicle, fly to another airfield in the aircraft, and then find a third vehicle to take you to your destination.

[Eric Mc]

And by the time you have made all the necessary registrations, taxes, licences etc you'll have given up on the idea.

[RizzoTheRat]

Yeah, that's where it falls down, the Skycycle is a US kit build one that's classed as an experimental aircraft so fairly easy to get registered for flying, no idea on getting an SVA equivilent though.

Edited by RizzoTheRat on Tuesday 3rd April 15:12

[freecar]

dr_gn said:

Mr_B said:

Looks really good actually. Pity they didn't bother to report on how quickly and easily it all folds away, as that's going to be critical....along with the cost.

How exactly does he expect people to "fly past a traffic jam" when they'd need a 160m long clear runway to take off?

Park in traffic,

Wait for a minute or two...

et voila 160m of clear tarmac!

[dr_gn]

RizzoTheRat said:

Yeah, that's where it falls down, the Skycycle is a US kit build one that's classed as an experimental aircraft so fairly easy to get registered for flying, no idea on getting an SVA equivilent though.

Edited by RizzoTheRat on Tuesday 3rd April 15:12

So you have to make a detour to and from an airstrip at the start point of your journey, make a detour to and from an airstrip at your destination, pray to god that - assuming the weather was good enough to fly, it holds for the duration of your trip or else you'll end up driving possibly hundreds of miles in what amounts to a Reliant Robin...etc etc etc.

The concept just doesn't appear to stack up as a viable form of transport. These things are just novelty toys for eccentrics.

[RizzoTheRat]

Compared to driving the airstrip, flying to another airstrip, and then getting a taxi to your destination it's a good idea. But yes I see where you're comming from. However for some people those detours may not be too big. For example I have a 2 or 3 small airstrips plus a commercial airfield within a few miles of my house, and am currently working on a site with it's own airstrip.