The Flynano.
These are the only two non-cgi images I could find.
I did like the music while the slideshow played though.
(update), CNN says full video of the flynano in flight is coming soon.... so this is looking less like vaporware... I still cannot find many real pictures online.
(another update)
testing video on a lake... still haven't seen any images of a working, flying, production vehicle.
I used to take flying lessons for about a year, so this is really appealing. However, the $40K price tag...not so much. There's all kinds of kits (from all-parts to 51% kits), and ready-built ultralights on the market. I don't think everyone would want a flying boat.
ReplyDeleteHowever, Universal Hovercraft has a hovercraft that, essentially, is an aircraft (but it's not classified as such) called the UH-18SPW Hoverwing. It's basically a hovercraft with specially-designed wings that allow it to fly in "ground effect" (about 15-20 feet above ground level). It really quite interesting...you can take a few people for an airplane ride just a few feet above the water. Russia has these kinds of craft as well, called "ekranoplans"...but I digress.
I can find thousands of home-built aircraft plans, ultralight parts, and ready-to-fly ultralights on eBay and other flying websites that can be bought for far less. It just takes a bit of searching. Granted, I'd rather get an ultralight that's already put together and well-tested, than trust my somewhat shaky mechanical abilities (an aircraft mechanic man I am not) in building something from a mishmash of parts and fabric that I'll be risking my life in. I'd rather continue my horrible addicition of breathing...
Yeah I remember reading about the ground effect Russian planes. MASSIVE things, and pretty stable. They seemed like a good idea. Oh great, now I gotta find out why they didn't (ahem) take off.
ReplyDeletefound out why ground effect vehicles aren't common. They fly only as high as their wingspans...which is pretty much the definition for GEV. It also means they don't turn well, bank too hard, and the wing hits the ground or water.
ReplyDeleteSo the big trick is to design a GEV where that isn't a problem.
Thhank you
ReplyDelete