skycar

And how reasonable. It'll only cost me a million dollars. 'Scuse me while I drag out the old checkbook. :eek: Darn thing does look interesting, though.
 
The Skycar's fuel-efficient engines and ability to run on regular automotive gasoline result in low fuel costs. The Skycar is significantly more fuel efficient in passenger miles per gallon than the tilt-rotor V22 Osprey, helicopters or many commercial jet airplanes.
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I guess they forgot about the slight difference in applications.

I don't see it happening and I really hope the FAA does not grant such a certificate for such a vehicle so easily.
 
I suspect they are going to be missing their goal:

"Deposit is refundable until after a successful transitioning flight has occurred. Thereafter deposits are refundable only if Final Delivery Price exceeds List Price (as adjusted for CPI-W) by 5%, OR Standard Equipment List has been shortened OR Guaranteed Performance Specifications are not met, OR FAA Certification Date of the M400 Skycar occurs after December 31, 2008"
 
Man this quack has been promising that this thing willl fly for the last 15 years. Seems he gets the Pop Sci/Mech cover every couple of years.

This quote from the FAQ section cracks me up....

4.3. How much will the M400 cost?
In limited production (500 units per year) the M400 Skycar will sell for a price comparable to that of a four-passenger high performance helicopter or airplane, approximately $500,000. As the volume of production increases substantially, its price can approach that of a quality automobile ($60,000-$80,000).
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It gets even better.....
4.21. Will I need a license to pilot an M400 Skycar?
Currently the Skycar is categorized as a "powered-lift normal" aircraft by the FAA. This means that, yes, you will require a "powered-lift normal" category pilot's license to operate a Skycar. However, it is our intention that the volantor will eventually evolve into a completely automated form of transportation making you a passenger - not a pilot/driver. At that point, no pilot's license would be required as long as you operate within this control network.
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I'm still waiting for them to demonstrate assorted emergency landings from altitude including total powerplant failure, two fans failing in any configuration including on the same side, both front and both rear, without parachutes and without injury to the test pilot who must remain inside the vehicle until it comes to a complete stop. Until such time, I shall continue to file this contraption under death trap.
 
Make that 45+ years. I got a spec sheet and a video from Moller of his earlier incarnation, the one with 8 rotary engines and looked like a Jetson's commuter back in the early 80's. Only a tethered flight, as all his creations have ever done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MwxVAZuFOs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kg-wYrljW34&feature=related

vontresc said:
Man this quack has been promising that this thing willl fly for the last 15 years. Seems he gets the Pop Sci/Mech cover every couple of years.

This quote from the FAQ section cracks me up....



It gets even better.....
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jesse said:
I suspect they are going to be missing their goal:

"Deposit is refundable until after a successful transitioning flight has occurred. Thereafter deposits are refundable only if Final Delivery Price exceeds List Price (as adjusted for CPI-W) by 5%, OR Standard Equipment List has been shortened OR Guaranteed Performance Specifications are not met, OR FAA Certification Date of the M400 Skycar occurs after December 31, 2008"
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I wonder what deal all of the previous investors were promised. Oh. That was probably a different prototype and/or company.

The grim reaper will win his "fly before I die" derby.
 
Wasn't one of the prototype Skycars on eBay a couple of years ago? I don't remember IF it sold but at the time, it wasn't flying.
 
silver-eagle said:
Wasn't one of the prototype Skycars on eBay a couple of years ago? I don't remember IF it sold but at the time, it wasn't flying.
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Yeah. Don't think he made the reserve, but he got yet another round of publicity, which is what he wanted.

As I recall it didn't even include engines, much less any claim it could leave the ground.
 
mikea said:
Yeah. Don't think he made the reserve, but he got yet another round of publicity, which is what he wanted.

As I recall it didn't even include engines, much less any claim it could leave the ground.
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Oh. The reserve was "only" a $million.
http://ebay.business-opportunities.biz/2006/10/10/the-things-you-find-on-ebay/

The bidding got up to $2M? Sure it did.
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/13/moller-skycar-makes-it-on-ebay/

eBay ought to charge a listing fee for nonsense like that.
 
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Steve said:
Make that 45+ years. I got a spec sheet and a video from Moller of his earlier incarnation, the one with 8 rotary engines and looked like a Jetson's commuter back in the early 80's. Only a tethered flight, as all his creations have ever done.
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Moller has been promoting this fraud ever since I learned to fly in the mid-70s at least. I got tired of trying to caution other pilots against putting their money down on one after spotting this "new" technology for the first time. The thing will never be viable, simply because the drag losses on small, highly-loaded rotors are so huge. It's the same reason a 150 hp engine on a 172 will pull it forward using a six-foot prop, but would never lift a helicopter using that same six-foot propeller, mounted vertically. We have to use a 30- or 36-foot rotor, turning at a much lower speed and driven by that same 150 hp, before it'll do the job. 150 hp through a prop will give us 450 or maybe even 500 lbs of thrust, where the 36-foot rotor will give us 1800 lbs or whatever, see?


Dan
________
buy iolite vaporizer
 
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deafsound said:
Stumbled on this site tonight too.


powered lift normal category.

Who's gonna be the first here to get that certificate?
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None of us. It will never fly.

Is he still claiming that his machine that needs a half a dozen hopped up screaming engines just to get up into ground effect will be "fuel efficient"?

What a hoot.
 
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe said:
None of us. It will never fly.

Is he still claiming that his machine that needs a half a dozen hopped up screaming engines just to get up into ground effect will be "fuel efficient"?

What a hoot.
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Define ground effect on a aircraft that doesn't have a wing. ;)

Oh. I guess if you say that hovercraft fly in ground effect.
 
mikea said:
Define ground effect on a aircraft that doesn't have a wing. ;)

Oh. I guess if you say that hovercraft fly in ground effect.
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Yes, I would say that. Take the ground away and they would fall like a rock (or should I say, "fall like a Moller Sky Car"? ). Also, a helicopter will hover with less power in "ground effect".

The video of the scam car that I saw showed it no more than a few feet off the ground even when not encumbered by the weight of a pilot or more than a few gallons of fuel.
 
SkyHog said:
Interesting, that every video on his website has a giant crane in the background...
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Just a wild guess here but it's probably related to the cable that's attached to the top of the vehicle.
 
Pi1otguy said:
I wanna see it handle the chicken in the intake test.
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:rofl::yes::rofl:

I remember reading about Moller's designs in Popular Science back when I was a little kid...and I don't think it's advanced since then at all. I wonder how much money he's wasted on this thing over these many many many years?
 
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