It's 2010 - Where's my #%@ spaceship ??

[thatguitarguy]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

...if Lockheed (XFV-1 "Pogo"), Convair (XFY-1) and Ryan (F-53) couldn't make viable VTOL single-seat fighters, I seriously DOUBT some fly-by-night (pun intended) company can.

I think the problem with Lockheed's development of these kinds of contraptions has a lot to do with whose Congressional district it's going to be built in, who's going to get the pork, and whose going to get the jobs, and whose on the development committee.

Instead, I think we ought to go back to a Skunkworks mentality, where one man or a small team has a complete vision, and enough funding to get the job done without having to deal with politics, and invention by committee.

Guys tinkering away in their garages have come up with some pretty neat stuff.

[alohaspirit]

Originally Posted by Christ

I still don't like that T-Rex. Those things are ugly and fairly impractical to begin with... adding an "aero" body and some panniers just isn't really my definition of awesome.

Plus, I dunno if you noticed or not, but that body is more tuned for high-speed downforce generation.

well, it is made for "speed"

but id have to agree


general smoothing of the body and a smaller (electric) engine would be in order

concept is still cool though

[gone-ot]

Originally Posted by thatguitarguy

Instead, I think we ought to go back to a Skunkworks mentality, where one man or a small team has a complete vision, and enough funding to get the job done without having to deal with politics, and invention by committee.

...Burt Rutan comes to my mind!

[Frank Lee]

Where's my modern day Model T?

[bestclimb]

Building a Balancing Scooter

Yes now you too can build your own segway.

[RobertSmalls]

My Insight coasted to a stop next to a Chrysler Crossfire today. I took a good look at his body, and I see a lot of similarity between his spaceship and mine. I can understand why some people look at the Insight and think it will be fast. If Honda had added hood strakes and painted on some brake vents, could they have sold the original Insight for $40k?



I just looked up the drag coefficient of the Crossfire. 0.37-0.38! Were they even trying?

[Christ]

Originally Posted by bestclimb

Building a Balancing Scooter

Yes now you too can build your own segway.

Classic quote:

Originally Posted by Build Your Own Segway Site

In the fairly likely event of the software crashing, a wire coming loose, a component failing, or the batteries running low, the wheels will stop and the entire kinetic energy of the system will be used to accelerate my head toward the ground.

[Christ]

Originally Posted by RobertSmalls

My Insight coasted to a stop next to a Chrysler Crossfire today. I took a good look at his body, and I see a lot of similarity between his spaceship and mine. I can understand why some people look at the Insight and think it will be fast. If Honda had added hood strakes and painted on some brake vents, could they have sold the original Insight for $40k?



I just looked up the drag coefficient of the Crossfire. 0.37-0.38! Were they even trying?

It's a "sports" car. The rear panel rises when you hit highway speed to create unnecessary downforce.

You might slide sideways if you don't have that feature, rolling over and completely ruining your hair.