USAF test their latest prototype aircraft..

[NutLoose]

Well, that's different..

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/648x432/flyingcar_2b998944db02777a371104d8cf6a8e0fcb27a4dd.jpg


The US Air Force has revealed a prototype of a flying car, something the American military has desired (https://www.theregister.com/2010/04/14/darpa_marines_flying_car/) for at least a decade.

The latest build is single-person aircraft – specifically, a version of the Lift Hexa copter, which uses 18 electric motors that allow it to take off and land vertically. The vehicle was put through its paces (https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2321614/air-force-top-leaders-witness-first-agility-prime-flying-car-demo/) last Friday at the Texas State Guard's Camp Mabry base.


https://www.theregister.com/2020/08/24/air_force_flying_car/

[ORAC]

Wonder who gets to test the dreaded 17 engine approach.....

[CAEBr]

Useful as long as there is a suitable battlefield charging point as well as a 90 minute truce while it gets recharged back up to a usable power level..... ;)

[jolihokistix]

Will it still fly if one, two or three props get knocked out, i.e. shape adjustable, I wonder?

[Brewster Buffalo]

Here is the 1950's version -Piasecki VZ-8 Airgeep

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SERvwWALOM

[[email protected]]

So apart from the noise, the dust cloud and the likelihood of ingesting much of the foliage, the Piazecki seems like a very stealthy and well-thought out project:)

[doolay]

Otherwise known as a helicopter.

[Dan Gerous]

Well it'll provide a good pic for the capcom.:)

[Gearupandorrf]

What will its ETOPS approval be?

[KPax]

Would love to have seen this at Animal House in Akrotiri in the 90's, possible carnage

[Pugilistic Animus]

I can't imagine that contraption taking a SAM... looks like foolishness to me tbh

[ETOPS]

What will its ETOPS approval be?

Quite low - I’m not going up in that !

[RAFEngO74to09]

This looks much better:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_J4pJBow00

https://terrafugia.com/transition/

[Pugilistic Animus]

This looks much better:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_J4pJBow00

https://terrafugia.com/transition/
All nonsense!

[NutLoose]

Japanese version looks good

https://youtu.be/58kEzTpPzS0

[NutLoose]

meanwhile in the UK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soxxPyaAT1k

[The AvgasDinosaur]

Two quite simple questions. Would solar panel recharging help endurance?
How many flight engineers do you need to keep 18 donks synchronised?
David

[RAFEngO74to09]

More on Terrafugia - experimental test aircraft already flying:

https://terrafugia.com/

[DuncanDoenitz]

"......... Desired for a decade". Good grief!

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1210x1651/img_20200826_0001_c1ae666027d86caaf09d9e0bfe13adcf40574279.j pg
Military Aircraft, Ian Allen, 1956

What on earth is the problem? Take your pick; everybody had one in 1956.

One suspects that, rather like Jack Northrop's Flying Wing, this is a brilliant idea that has been in a holding pattern for 60-odd years, waiting for the technology to catch up with the concept.

Nice to see that Europe was holding its own back then. One hopes that the Test Pilot of USAF's current project will follow M. Sablier's lead and trade his shorts/tee-shirt combo for more sensible tweeds, tie and moto-helmet. It must have been chilly at 8,000 feet above le Bourget.

(Note, 6 hp by the way. And no, I've no idea about anti-torque).

[sandiego89]

Two quite simple questions. Would solar panel recharging help endurance?
How many flight engineers do you need to keep 18 donks synchronised?
David

Although getting better, solar panels would not provide nearly enough juice for any type of useful return. For a ground recharge my guess is a small panel would take hours to supply enough charge for likely a few seconds of flight at full power, plus the extra weight of panels, wires and inverters.

[NutLoose]

The US were working on an ejection seat that turned into a helicopter to put distance between you and the crash during the Vietnam period.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/500x701/stowableaircrewvehicleescaperotoseat_ab44cc2f99d89fb01d64246 483404284d643a7dc.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/393x178/flyingejectionseat_3cbdbddad128a6ba56479a1e486794a4665e977b. jpg

[garyscott]

I can't imagine that contraption taking a SAM... looks like foolishness to me tbh

I think it will take a SAM pretty well . . . . .


Once.