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

One suspects these did not revolutionize the auto biz for a reason.

These are very sexy-looking and their CdA is probably exemplary but from a vehicle dynamics standpoint they scream "Deathtrap!"

The fixed outrigger wheels make this thing a nightmare to corner. Unable to bank into the turn like a motorcycle and unable to resist upturning moment at the ends it is nothing but a top-heavy bike with training wheels. It would be very vulnerable to what bikers call a "high side" where the bike rolls on an axix 45 degrees or so from the nominal roll axis.

The idea is too good to give up on. If I had one I would modifiy it to have retractable outrigger wheels. At low speeds the landing gear would make it easy to handle. Somewhere between 5 MPH and 10 MPH the out rigger wheels retract and she becomes a long motorcycle. As such, I think the rake angle will need some work. There are electric retractable landing gear available for Gold Wings.

Another refinement I see an opportunity for: These vehicles use motorcycle suspension components. These things have to weigh over a half-ton curb weight at least. That is too much for even Gold Wing suspension components.

For service in the Midwest, it will need a good heater/defroster and effective ram-air ventilation.

The ones using Gold Wing drive trains are probably wildly over-geared.

.192 drag coefficient is the quoted figure.
It looks so much sleeker...but the .CDxA is fantastic !
I looked at one yesterday.
I love the car.
I was surprised at how much room is in the cockpit.
The car seemed as long as my Civic, yet lower ( elbow height )
From the front end to the edge of the dash was a good four and a half feet or so.

Around 800 lbs curb weight :

1984 Litestar Brochure
http://www.autocycles.org/litestar1984.html
http://www.autocycles.org/images/litestar6.jpg

CarloSW2

Bede's aero/motorcycle
 

Yep,I'm droolin' bigtime! I've seen three of 'em,two in motion,one used as a billboard.Wish they'd sold hundreds of thousands,if not millions.A high standard,still by today's technology.