Flying cars. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2013, 05:52:46 pm
content: Saw this and had to share as its sort of back to the future and electric cars combined.http://youtu.be/bp2TWNpTA7s

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 07, 2013, 08:35:51 pm
content: Interesting, but it's still at the level I recall seeing in American Magazines, some 50 years ago...Looking at the other videos, and I would expect if ever it comes to market, your going to need a mind-set change for other road users; plus I would be worried about the safety on-road, where the curious would be too close goggling your craft, and if a crash occurs even slightly ? it's going to be a CAA nightmare.However I do like the whole idea, if it could be made at a cost effect production level; on a par with the Henry Ford ideology... Ah well, dream-on.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2013, 08:58:24 pm
content: LOL. 1 megawatt. Battery powered. (Pretty impractical from the start without lots of batteries and extremely high power inverter. Tesla have only got 420 hp / 310kW burst; trying for 1MW continuous is going to require very heavy duty batteries, wiring, contactors, cooling, etc.)300 hp engine = 220kW. I don't see how a 300 hp engine can recharge a system drawing 1 megawatt.I also would like to see a video-based simulation of a pedestrian getting in the way during take off. I would imagine it would be... something to lose your head over.Nice concept, completely impractical for the time being.

author: cyr
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2013, 06:04:41 am
content: Seems like another "concept" dreamed up by someone with absolutely no grasp of the physics or engineering involved.

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2013, 07:21:27 am
content: QuoteThe odd thing is that aren't Terrafugia the outfit that already has a hybrid car/plane thing flying?This one does look like it's out of dreamland though.QuoteWell, that's OK as long as your charge:discharge time ratio is 5:1 or better.QuoteImpractical for ever I would have thought - even without the "little" problem of a battery and motor system compact enough to do the vertical take off it looks to have way too little in the way of lift generating surface to carry 4 adults.

author: amspire
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2013, 07:41:09 am
content: Quote from: tom66 on May 07, 2013, 08:58:24 pmIt wouldn't be 1 megawatt continuous. It is only for 13 seconds (timed off the video) vertical take off only under worse case conditions. Landing could be done with less power.If a Tesla engine is 310kW, then two would be 620 kW. 1MW is not impossible for 13 seconds. They can rely on better air cooling of the engine then in a car. It is a concept design, so they could easily be looking at ultracapacitors to store the energy for a takeoff or landing. Concept designs don't have to be built from parts only available today.Flying is done with a 300HP fuel-powered engine that also recharges the batteries or capacitors. They do not make it clear if it is a shrouded prop or a jet engine in the rear, but from the size of the wings, I suspect it has to be a jet engine to get up to a sufficient speed. One thing for sure - they need a lot of big engines particularly if they need another engine to drive the wheels on the road. There have been experimental cars with jet engines. I remember seeing one of the car jet turbine engines being powered up at a university lab and it was pretty scary. Not surprised it never took off. I think it was from a Rover experimental turbine engine car from memory.I don't think the idea is impossible, but for me, the idea of wanting to manufacture something you know is going to lead to lots of tragic accidents is a stress I am happy to be without.

author: iloveelectronics
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2013, 08:20:55 am
content: I read Terrormania as the company name...will probably create a lot of terrorphobia too!

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2013, 11:06:57 am
content: Probably every boy has dreamt of a car like this at some time, most likely during class time. My main concern would be this thing looks like a Reliant Robin with wings on.

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2013, 11:34:08 am
content: I'd rather a PAL-V myself, sure it's a gyro so no vertical takeoff, but you can get pretty short takeoff runs, and no-roll landing.It also looks cool, and actually exists.

author: elgonzo
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 08, 2013, 11:49:40 am
content: Or, there was this Moller skycar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moller_M400_Skycar) almost a decade ago.But i think it was never in such a functioning state as the PAL-V.

author: MikeK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2013, 11:33:52 pm
content: Quote from: G7PSK on May 08, 2013, 11:06:57 amYep. And kids have Star Wars fantasies, too...Flying around from star system to star system. But that won't happen either.

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2013, 02:16:37 pm
content: Quote from: MikeK on May 08, 2013, 11:33:52 pmThat did not stop Ronald Reagan.

author: amspire
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2013, 04:01:52 pm
content: Here is the Curtis Autoplane from 1917. Shown at the New York Pan-American Aeronautic Exposition. The Wings come off and it is propelled on the road with the propeller.So in just 4 years, we would have had flying cars for 100 years.