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Post by sniff on Jul 29, 2008 18:19:22 GMT 12
Another Kiwi invention, first display at Oshkosh tomorrow.
See TV1 news
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Post by FlyNavy on Jul 29, 2008 18:24:22 GMT 12
Yeah But what does it look like? Is it a flying lawnmower? ;D
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Post by sleemanj on Jul 29, 2008 18:36:30 GMT 12
Yeah But what does it look like? Is it a flying lawnmower? ;D It's rather large, jet pack is a bit of a stretch. If you've seen the Mythbuster's episode where they built a ducted fan "jet pack" it looks like that on steroids. I'd be interested to see if it can get higher than effectively ground effect, I'd also be interested to see if anybody would want to get higher than effectively ground effect :-) There was an exclusive item showing it being flown all be it with "wing walkers" for added stabilisation (not just the youtube video) on One News tonight, so keep an eye on www.tvnz.co.nz and it might pop up there in an hour or two. It should appear in the Oshkosh highlights reel tomorrow (which you'll find at www.eaa.org somewhere), the international unveiling is Tuesday morning Oshkosh time. |
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Post by sleemanj on Jul 29, 2008 18:41:35 GMT 12
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Post by philip on Jul 29, 2008 19:36:07 GMT 12
I'm underwelmed.
It looks like an oversized office desk, about the size of a mini. Demonstrated with two guys walking alongside to stabilise it. Can fly for less than half an hour at i'd imagine walking pace and thats assuming it can break free from the minders
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Post by FlyNavy on Jul 29, 2008 20:08:18 GMT 12
But does it give a good haircut? See the previous thread here:
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Post by vgp on Jul 29, 2008 22:11:58 GMT 12
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Post by fletcherfu24 on Jul 30, 2008 7:33:26 GMT 12
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Post by FlyNavy on Jul 30, 2008 10:55:12 GMT 12
Must be from the ACME 'deathtrapicus springus hotrodicus supersonicus' Meep Meep Corporation. ;D    |
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Post by yak2 on Jul 30, 2008 11:27:58 GMT 12
Another Kiwi invention, first display at Oshkosh tomorrow. See TV1 news Think this has been done before. The guy turned up at the Melbourne Show a couple of years ago. Think they are still trying to clean his jocks. ;D |
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Post by fletcherfu24 on Jul 30, 2008 11:33:56 GMT 12
Wisconsin Man Glenn Martin Invents First Usable Jetpack.......The Yanks are already claiming it as one of thier inventions...... ;D
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Post by yak2 on Jul 30, 2008 11:37:23 GMT 12
Cheeky buggers. Next they will start banging on about the Wright brothers.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 30, 2008 15:23:09 GMT 12
Glenn Martin used to make turrets for US bombers during the war, so must be a US design
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Post by fletcherfu24 on Jul 30, 2008 15:36:58 GMT 12
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Post by FlyingKiwi on Jul 30, 2008 17:47:07 GMT 12
Not to mention the chaos it would cause to air traffic if it can reach 8,000 feet - even if you could hypothetically fly safely in it at that height, you would presumably need to carry an aircraft radio and consequently be trained in using it correctly.
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Post by fletcherfu24 on Jul 30, 2008 21:01:54 GMT 12
Still not convinced,saw this thing again on the news,I don't think it can even fly.It appears to have to big fans than provide vertical lift and it appears to have some limited thrust vectoring to move forward.But as it doesnt appear to have anything like the tilt rotor concept of the Osprey to allow it to transition to forward flight at any speed,how is it going to fly forward with any speed?.
Am I correct that it would appear if it built up any amount of forward speed it would fly out of the vertical lift provided by the fans and simply pitch forward uncontrollably into the ground?.
They also claim it can ascend to 8,000 feet,but unless it can produce lift other by hovering,theres no way that has enough power to hover vertically up too 80 feet,let alone 8,000 feet.
The most obvious flaw with the whole concept is it needs sustained power to maintain flight and a partial or complete engine failure would bring the whole craft plunging down to earth.
The other most obvious problem is if it lands with any forward momemtum and the pilot lost his footing he would face plant himself and then be crushed by the weight on the thing strapped
on his back.
The one factor that I can see that will keep the whole thing earth bound is insurance,the USA is the land of litigation,and no insurance company will touch this with a barge pole.Once these things start dropping out of the sky it would be lawsuit city.
Probably sound like one of the yokels leaning over the fence that told Richard Pearse he should to stick to milking cows,but other than a media beat up I think this whole thing is bordering on lunacy on a slow news day.
Will quite happily eat a whole humble pie if they sell one or it gets more than 50 ft off the ground without killing someone
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Post by lumpy on Jul 30, 2008 22:04:27 GMT 12
I totally agree . There doese not seem to be anything new ( or less lethal ) here . Some sort of fancy gyro guidance system , like an auto pilot might be interesting , if it made it more safe ( but the fact that you seem to need two mates to walk along side you , seems to suggest that this isnt the case . Where you are going to find two mates with 8000ft long legs is beyond me ! )
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Post by lumpy on Jul 30, 2008 22:11:18 GMT 12
Actually it was interesting to watch on tv , the pilot was fully "decked out " , helmet , suit etc . The minders had nothing ! In fairness , the pilot was a full 12 inches higher off the ground than the minders ! ;D
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Post by Bruce on Jul 30, 2008 22:22:18 GMT 12
Its an interesting gadget to put it mildly. I personally won't knock it as it is obviously a work in progress. I think the fact that there are currently "wing" walkers when it flies is not a big deal - the Harrier jet and even the F35B made their early test flights under tether - its common sense safety during the Early development phase. Whether it will ever reach 8000ft is debatable - I would have to ask why one would want to. It does have a Ballistic recovery chute, but that wont protect it in the no-mans land between minimum chute height and maximum free fall height. I'm inclined to think its future lies as a fun adventure activity (like Blokarts or Orbs) blasting around 4-6 feet over swamps or open grassland. It would be quite fun I reckon. Its not going to find a "useful" purpose (the Bell jetpack was developed to help troops cross rivers, minefields etc - hence it was a lot more portable).
I don't think it is as fully developed as its promoters claim - they are probably trying to get some more capital to bring it to production standard.
I do think it is sad that NZers developing a practical and innovative flying machine such as the Falcomposite Furio don't get a mention, when "oddball" inventors do.
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Post by yak2 on Jul 30, 2008 22:42:15 GMT 12
That name is misleading. Should be a 'Pispack'.
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