Airscooter Controls
 

Firstly, I tried some searches and could not find a previous thread on this topic. If there is one, can someone direct me to it please.

From the limited description and photos on the website (www.airscooter.com) I think it works as follows :-

• All rotor blades are fixed pitch - open throttle and increase RPM to increase lift and climb.
• Rotor assembly is gimbal mounted and linked to handlebars - Tilting rotor gives forward / reverse / sideways control.
• Handlebars are linked to vertical fins to move them - downwash from rotors creates torque for directional control.

Am I on the right track with this ? Does anyone have any thoughts on the controlability and safety of this concept ?

I notice that their FAQ page mentions that autorotation is not possible (obviously since there is no collective).

Thanks in advance for any info and comments.

Spec.

Airscooter
 

Anybody who flies something like this - where your life will almost certainly stop shortly after the engine does - is just plain daft.

Parachute recovery system? Yeah. Right.....

They explain away the non-auto capability by saying that it is intended for low level operation ( thereby busting every rule in the book) yet are looking at a BRS......Funny that.

I suppose that will be designed to open on impact?

Might be fun for the next 'Cat in the Hat' movie ( CGI only of course) but otherwise?

Plain daft. Thats what it is.

Hairy

For an extra us$17 750 you can have a Rotorway, at least it autorotates.

"The AirScooter is designed for recreational flying at low altitude where even traditional helicopters have little benefit from auto-rotation."

How low is safe in this? 3 feet?

"it falls into the ultralight weight class; requiring no pilot's license."

This is a fatality waiting to happen! Just imagine, no training, hot day, little extra weight (picnic lunch?) confined space, yeh she'll be right.

I'll just stick with my 22 for now.

"For an extra us$17 750 you can have a Rotorway, at least it autorotates."

... or a little more still and have a HummingBird?