Aerodynamics...airplane+motorcycle=car
 

Does anybody drool on this? Or ¸am I alone?

http://www.autocycles.org/

I have wanted one since I first saw one at an airshow around twenty years ago.
I have seen a couple parked by the side of the road used for advertising purposes.
( Around five blocks down the road from where I live to be exact )

Aren't they technically motorcycles because only three wheels touch the ground at a particular time? Creative way to bend the law...:) Anyone have fuel mileage data?

I wonder what the motivation behind this thing was? To look sleek?

Flying coffin ---> Driving Coffin
http://www.autocycles.org/images/bdtrike12.jpg

- LostCause

Lost cause,
The one pictured above was actually made with the fuselage of Mr..Bede's plane. This is NOT representative of the 350 or so made. those all had a hidden front wheel. Tchnically they are motorcycles so you are right on that. It is NOT a creative way to bend the law at all. Three wheel vehicules have been around since before the 20th century...The Morgan, Bond, Jewel come to mind. The Pulse has wheels on the outriggers for stabilisation at red lights and stop signs. If properly adjusted, most of the time they are not rolling. Sometimes only one touches during crosswinds and such. For more info, explore the first link. This is a cool machine, check the video featuring Mr. Bede.
As for milleage, anywhere from 45 to 100 is cited in all that I have read.
Toodle-dee-doo-cracker-bits.

Thanks for the reply, but I just found that picture poking around the site of some guy building a trike. I realize its not the pulse, I couldn't see why a BD-5 fuselage was mated to massive wheels sticking out the front. Seems like driving a torpedo with a parachute deployed...

I didn't realize it generally drove on two wheels, but I meant bending the law because it technically has four. Interesting stuff.

- LostCause

The front wheels on my 3-wheel (oops: 5-wheel with trailer) E-Pod stick out about 3" for roll-over safety. Now I know why people jump out of the way- come to think of it, it DOES look like a torpedo.

Hmmm. Parachute..... great idea!:D

countersTrike

Frederick -

Oh yeah, I remember those. Methinks I see a missing link to the Aptera, :D . I could never quite get into the design, but it would be more reasonable to me if the urban/car mix in LA was smaller/lighter cars.

If I had one, I would compromise the design with a flag or dorsal fin that would be used for a light of some kind (today I could have an antenna with multiple LEDs!!!). The purpose would be to raise it's awareness to other drivers. That would compromise MPG for safety (please see me!!!!).

CarloSW2

Interesting how people from the same region think alike. In the 1970's a dentist commissioned a three-wheeled diesel for maximum fuel efficiency. The most striking feature? A dorsal fin for visibility...

125mpg California Commuter
http://www.canosoarus.com/03CalifCom.../CC%20Road.JPG

- Lost Cause

LostCause -

Yup, and I would probably wear a motorcycle helmet in a Litestar also, at least on the freeway.

CarloSW2