Esper Posted August 28, 2018 Share Posted August 28, 2018 I had been looking into this for about an hour and wanted to share what I found. I learned that there are quite a few electric vehicles capable of flight being manufactured by various companies. NASA is one, Boeing is another. There are more but not noteable enough that the name would be recognisable. Here is a futuristic looking vehicle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunka Hunka Burning Love Posted August 29, 2018 Share Posted August 29, 2018 Don't forget the EHang. I wonder what happens if a bird gets accidentally choppered up in those exposed blades. Would it still be able to fly with a damaged rotor? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esper Posted August 29, 2018 Author Share Posted August 29, 2018 There have also been a few other experimentals up here in Seattle recently. Uber is planning on getting a passenger drone service that will be up in a couple years for demo in California. I am not sure if they will go the electric route or petrol. I think in about 15 years we will see tons of things from science-fiction movies come to life. I'm excited and thrilled and hope to just be able to see all the changes we create in the years to come. You hear that? That's the future calling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunka Hunka Burning Love Posted August 29, 2018 Share Posted August 29, 2018 I just hope these flying vehicles will be a little more dependable than EUCs! Imagine if Gotway or InMotion went into the flying drone business... and it rains... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meepmeepmayer Posted August 29, 2018 Share Posted August 29, 2018 Hey, Gotways are no less rainproof than other wheels. Wouldn't know of a single rain-damaged GW wheel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunka Hunka Burning Love Posted August 29, 2018 Share Posted August 29, 2018 Rain, water, we gonna split hairs here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toshio Uemura Posted August 30, 2018 Share Posted August 30, 2018 My next toy. I already pre-ordered one ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esper Posted August 30, 2018 Author Share Posted August 30, 2018 That looks so silly Toshio. lol. The landing maneuver is hilarious. It reminds me of a Sea Lion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rehab1 Posted August 30, 2018 Share Posted August 30, 2018 On 8/28/2018 at 8:04 PM, Hunka Hunka Burning Love said: Don't forget the EHang. I wonder what happens if a bird gets accidentally choppered up in those exposed blades. Would it still be able to fly with a damaged rotor? The rotors would cut through any bird strike like a lawnmower hitting a branch. I am curious about the power/ transmission setup being the rotors are smaller than those on normal size helicopters. These rotor blades are not large enough to create adequate inertia to autorotate to the ground in the event of a power failure. My blades on the Bell 47 were so large the stored up inertia allowed me to chop the power and gently autorotate the ship to the ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toshio Uemura Posted August 30, 2018 Share Posted August 30, 2018 3 hours ago, Esper said: That looks so silly Toshio. lol. The landing maneuver is hilarious. It reminds me of a Sea Lion. Yes and imagine you could really buy one of those for the price of an SUV two or three years from now. Wouldn’t you want such a Sea Lion? I always wanted to fly. When I was nine I fixed lots of balloons ? on one of our garden chairs hoping it would lift off. Fortunately it didn’t. My parents just shaked their heads, but I haven’t given up on my childish dream. So yes, sea lion ? here I come. ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toshio Uemura Posted August 30, 2018 Share Posted August 30, 2018 2 hours ago, Rehab1 said: The rotors would cut through any bird strike like a lawnmower hitting a branch. I am curious about the power/ transmission setup being the rotors are smaller than those on normal size helicopters. These rotor blades are not large enough to create adequate inertia to autorotate to the ground in the event of a power failure. My blades on the Bell 47 were so large the stored up inertia allowed me to chop the power and gently autorotate the ship to the ground. One shouldn’t be a problem. Two failing on the same arm would be fatal. The ultimate face plant, if you’d forgotten your umbrella ? ☂ ? But there would be an emergency parasol or may be even a parachute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rehab1 Posted August 30, 2018 Share Posted August 30, 2018 2 minutes ago, Toshio Uemura said: One shouldn’t be a problem. Two failing on the same arm would be fatal. The ultimate face plant, if you’d forgotten your umbrella ? ☂ ? But there would be an emergency parasol or may be even a parachute. I agree if each rotor is powered independently. If one transmission shaft is powering each of 2 blades then both rotors could fail simultaneously. I’ve had two separate power failures when piloting a chopper and it was nice to look overhead and see my rotors still turning through the entire emergency procedure. Suppose that particular passenger drone could support an emergency parachute that ejected from the center of the body. The Cirrus airplane has saved numerous lives with their chute design. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toshio Uemura Posted August 30, 2018 Share Posted August 30, 2018 5 minutes ago, Rehab1 said: I agree if each rotor is powered independently. I I suppose this thing is powered like the camera drones are with individual motors. In this case 8 individual motors. if there would be transmission shafts like in helicopters I would never get on one of these things. And I still wouldn’t even with individual motors, as this thing looks ugly. I‘d prefer the sea lion! ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meepmeepmayer Posted August 30, 2018 Share Posted August 30, 2018 8 hours ago, Toshio Uemura said: My next toy. I already pre-ordered one ? Landing gear? Pff, too easy. The aircraft equivalent of this: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esper Posted August 30, 2018 Author Share Posted August 30, 2018 1 hour ago, Toshio Uemura said: Yes and imagine you could really buy one of those for the price of an SUV two or three years from now. Wouldn’t you want such a Sea Lion? I always wanted to fly. When I was nine I fixed lots of balloons ? on one of our garden chairs hoping it would lift off. Fortunately it didn’t. My parents just shaked their heads, but I haven’t given up on my childish dream. So yes, sea lion ? here I come. ? I agree yet this is already a possibility. There is an airplane I want that is $35,000 new. That is about the cost of a brand new car these days. Plus, the plane can land on water or ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treponema Posted August 30, 2018 Share Posted August 30, 2018 I like this one better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esper Posted August 30, 2018 Author Share Posted August 30, 2018 1 hour ago, Treponema said: I like this one better Hey! Jet fuel doesn't count as Electric!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rehab1 Posted August 30, 2018 Share Posted August 30, 2018 2 hours ago, Esper said: I agree yet this is already a possibility. There is an airplane I want that is $35,000 new. That is about the cost of a brand new car these days. Plus, the plane can land on water or ground. Are the aircraft’s wings made of styrofoam and it’s powered by an electric fan? Do you have any info? I’m assuming it must be some version of an ultralight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esper Posted August 30, 2018 Author Share Posted August 30, 2018 22 minutes ago, Rehab1 said: Are the aircraft’s wings made of styrofoam and it’s powered by an electric fan? Do you have any info? I’m assuming it must be some version of an ultralight. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quikkit_Glass_Goose The airplane is a 'kit plane' which is why it is so cheap. You get the parts and assemble it yourself. The overall time it takes to finish is ~1000 hours. Price is actually $32,500 But round up to $35,000 because of the tools and equipment. I think the motor also comes separately. There is one that is fully built for sale at a little over $80k Just for a little more info. There is a monthly magazine that's called Kit Planes. If you are interested in getting a plane for cheap and wouldn't mind building one yourself. Get a subscription to the magazine and look it over until you find one that you like! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rehab1 Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 1 hour ago, Esper said: The airplane is a 'kit plane' which is why it is so cheap. Unfortunately just the Lycoming engine used to power that aircraft would cost $25-30k new. There are cheaper used engines available but after building 2 helicopters I felt more comfortable flying with a zero hour power plant. Most experiential aircraft can be purchased in stages so you can accomplish a great deal of work before requiring the other expensive components such as the engine and avionics. Even upholstering can cost between $5-10K. Not a cheap hobby. Here is my Oshkosh Grand Champion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esper Posted August 31, 2018 Author Share Posted August 31, 2018 20 minutes ago, Rehab1 said: Unfortunately just the Lycoming engine used to power that aircraft would cost $25-30k new. There are cheaper used engines available but after building 2 helicopters I felt more comfortable flying with a zero hour power plant. Thanks for destroying my dream Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toshio Uemura Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 24 minutes ago, Rehab1 said: Unfortunately just the Lycoming engine used to power that aircraft would cost $25-30k new. There are cheaper used engines available but after building 2 helicopters I felt more comfortable flying with a zero hour power plant. Most experiential aircraft can be purchased in stages so you can accomplish a great deal of work before requiring the other expensive components such as the engine and avionics. Even upholstering can cost between $5-10K. Not a cheap hobby. Here is my Oshkosh Grand Champion. Wowww! Super ? cool! I must come visit you .. ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rehab1 Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 34 minutes ago, Toshio Uemura said: Wowww! Super ? cool! I must come visit you .. ? That was in 2002. I then sold the helicopter and it jumped between a few countries ending up in Lithuania I believe. Unfortunately it crashed killing both the pilot and passenger. Here’s the full report on my ship N557XS. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=145624 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toshio Uemura Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 7 minutes ago, Rehab1 said: That was in 2002. I then sold the helicopter and it jumped between a few countries ending up in Lithuania I believe. Unfortunately it crashed killing both the pilot and passenger. Here’s the full report on my ship N557XS. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=145624 That’s really tragic. Sounds like someone over there did a bad maintenance job. What a shame. Such a beautiful heli. ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esaj Posted September 5, 2018 Share Posted September 5, 2018 On 8/30/2018 at 7:13 PM, Rehab1 said: My blades on the Bell 47 were so large the stored up inertia allowed me to chop the power and gently autorotate the ship to the ground. I heard some pilots flying tourists in places regularly train autorotating (without the passengers or air control knowing) during the sight-seeing tours The Finnish Atol Avion is building a new ultralight (plane, not a chopper) in collaboration with some US company: https://atol.fi/ But it's not electric, I think they tried it with an electric motor at some point. Not a cheap hobby there either: "The current base price for an ATOL 650 LSA with standard equipment is EUR 169,000.00. A reservation deposit, which guarantees your production slot, is EUR 5,000.00 All prices displayed exclude VAT" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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