News Design study: lithium-phosphate powered personal tilt-rotor aircraft

[Arrowstar]

Much more practical...

https://www.elektor-electronics.co.uk/projects/elektorwheelie.986808.lynkx

N.

And it comes with a girl! :lol:

In all seriousness, the reason I don't see these taking off (no pub intended) with the general public, even if they are built, is simply the complexity of maneuvering a rotorcraft. It will be like everyone's first time trying to fly that Bell chopper in Flight Simulator: it always ends poorly. Planes are safer and easier to control. And, of course, you can actually move more than one person, no cargo, and some air with you...

I'll finish by saying that if the flight software does so much for you that it can land the vehicle (and get it flying horizontally after takeoff), then there's really nothing left for the pilot to do! Might as well take a cab.

 

[Notebook]

It may come with a girl, but the price is different...

I think its an ambitious design, and like a lot of these things, something may come out of it, I can't see it being practical in a town or city, doubt it would be licensed.

When I had some money! I did a helicopter PPL, and terrorised the UK south coast for a bit. We practiced autorotations on every flight, and it was an interesting procedure. I didn't enjoy it much, and I think this design would be very tricky.
Also, I like to do my flying sitting down, at my age!

N.

 

[John_L]

Long road from a cartoon to reality.

 

[Sky Captain]

I think it`s too small. A VTOL that can carry at least 2 persons and some luggage would be much more practical. Anyway if such things are ever going to replace a car I`m fairly sure they will be fully automated with user only selecting the destination and sitting back watching the ride. Tens of thousands of aircraft with novice pilots in a crowded airspace above a city would be a recipe for disaster so an advanced autopilot is the only way how to make it all reasonably safe. What is a minor fender bender in a car would be fatal crash in the air. Another big problem would be wind especially if these things are operated in city where buildings create turbulent gusts.

 

[T.Neo]

Anyone who's ever tried to land a tailsitter in Orbiter without using KILLROT or other autopilots has an idea of why this is hard, but this new plane looks like it might be easier.

Indeed. Tailsitters are killer, even in a sim like Orbiter...

Being able to see the ground should help somewhat though, IMO.

VTOL is tricky. Aside from helicopters, very few aircraft have done it, and essentially only one fixed-wing aircraft has done it effectively. And helicopters do not come without their own problems.

 

[RisingFury]

Should have used Li-po batteries though. More energy per weight, more energy per volume, larger power output. More expensive though and not as many recharge cycles... but we are talking about a design study, not a production model.

 

[C3PO]

You would need strong neck muscles to keep your head up during turns.

I don't think the designers have tried laying in that position with the head lifted for more then a few minutes. How many G's do you think the pilot could manage in that position? :lol:

 

[ex-orbinaut]

Is anyone thinking of making it as an add on?

 

[Andy44]

And the big question: is it UMMU compatible?

 

[RisingFury]

Is it UMMUv2 compatible?

 

[lennartsmit]

If you are very rich, you love taking risks, and a motorbike is too boring for you, this might be what you are looking for.

Richard Branson?

 

[T.Neo]

Is it UMMUv2 compatible?

Depends. Did you patch the .dll?

:lol:

 

[Eagle]

I think there's too much hardware there on the Puffin. Take one of those engines and make it a micro-helicopter. Maybe duct the rotor and put a wire cage in there for safety, give it a wide base, self-stabilization, and that's pretty much as far as you can dumb it down.