Hoverbikes? So want one!
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@scottalanmiller said:
I can pick up a commuter plane for $130K. Runs on car and is barely larger than my car. Good gas mileage too.
Runs on car?
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@scottalanmiller Yes, but routine maintenance is MUCH higher on planes than cars. My father's company owns more than 20 planes. Trust me, I know this stuff.
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@ajstringham said:
@scottalanmiller said:
I can pick up a commuter plane for $130K. Runs on car and is barely larger than my car. Good gas mileage too.
Runs on car?
Car fuel. Petrol. Must have been distracted.
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@ajstringham said:
@scottalanmiller Yes, but routine maintenance is MUCH higher on planes than cars. My father's company owns more than 20 planes. Trust me, I know this stuff.
The point is that easy access to small flying machines already exists.
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Yes, but the difference is that this would, if mass produced, probably cost in the range of a small car, not a small house.
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Yes the cost would make it much more affordable, therefore seen at 100x or maybe many many more than that than small airplanes.
Plus planes require a very specialized license. If these things require a lengthy license before you can just cruise around town on them, they probably won't sell very well, but if you don't have said license - watch out!
Also, you don't take an airplane to the movies (unless you live in Alaska). I would totally expect this thing to be a 'cool' ride for date night. You'll see them parked all along the strip just like you see modern motorcycles.
These are just some of the concerns.
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@Dashrender said:
Yes the cost would make it much more affordable, therefore seen at 100x or maybe many many more than that than small airplanes.
Plus planes require a very specialized license. If these things require a lengthy license before you can just cruise around town on them, they probably won't sell very well, but if you don't have said license - watch out!
Also, you don't take an airplane to the movies (unless you live in Alaska). I would totally expect this thing to be a 'cool' ride for date night. You'll see them parked all along the strip just like you see modern motorcycles.
These are just some of the concerns.
Well said.
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@ajstringham said:
Yes, but the difference is that this would, if mass produced, probably cost in the range of a small car, not a small house.
But the planes I know are about the same price as nice cars. More than my car, but not as much as friends of my cars.
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@Dashrender said:
Yes the cost would make it much more affordable, therefore seen at 100x or maybe many many more than that than small airplanes.
I could see 5x, but nothing like 100x. Those things are going to cost $20K minimum, I'm sure.
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@scottalanmiller said:
@Dashrender said:
Yes the cost would make it much more affordable, therefore seen at 100x or maybe many many more than that than small airplanes.
I could see 5x, but nothing like 100x. Those things are going to cost $20K minimum, I'm sure.
I agree. I'd guess 20-40K. About the price of a mid-range new car. But it'll be a toy more than anything.
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At least at first.
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@scottalanmiller said:
@Dashrender said:
Yes the cost would make it much more affordable, therefore seen at 100x or maybe many many more than that than small airplanes.
I could see 5x, but nothing like 100x. Those things are going to cost $20K minimum, I'm sure.
So does a Harley, and those are everywhere! I can't say how many more Harleys ($20-$40K bikes in general) there are than personal planes, but I bet it's a lot more than 5x.
Assuming these are truly safe these could be a great replacement for a commuter vehicle (though some sort of weather protection would greatly improve their everyman use).
This type of vehicle you can park outside your local pub or restaurant, you can't park you plane at starbucks.
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@Dashrender said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@Dashrender said:
Yes the cost would make it much more affordable, therefore seen at 100x or maybe many many more than that than small airplanes.
I could see 5x, but nothing like 100x. Those things are going to cost $20K minimum, I'm sure.
So does a Harley, and those are everywhere! I can't say how many more Harleys ($20-$40K bikes in general) there are than personal planes, but I bet it's a lot more than 5x.
Assuming these are truly safe these could be a great replacement for a commuter vehicle (though some sort of weather protection would greatly improve their everyman use).
This type of vehicle you can park outside your local pub or restaurant, you can't park you plane at starbucks.
Precisely.
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I knew my childhood technology would turn into a reality
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Parking is a huge issue. That completely changes how this could be used.
Imagine using these out on a ranch.
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@scottalanmiller said:
Parking is a huge issue. That completely changes how this could be used.
Imagine using these out on a ranch.
I think any wind over 15mph may be a problem. That craft looks like it has serious stability issues. You can see it with the dummy and you can see it with the the actual human riders trying to take off.
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@IRJ said:
@scottalanmiller said:
Parking is a huge issue. That completely changes how this could be used.
Imagine using these out on a ranch.
I think any wind over 15mph may be a problem. That craft looks like it has serious stability issues. You can see it with the dummy and you can see it with the the actual human riders trying to take off.
I believe that the stability issues can be overcome, even better if most if not all control are left the computer.
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@Dashrender said:
@IRJ said:
@scottalanmiller said:
Parking is a huge issue. That completely changes how this could be used.
Imagine using these out on a ranch.
I think any wind over 15mph may be a problem. That craft looks like it has serious stability issues. You can see it with the dummy and you can see it with the the actual human riders trying to take off.
I believe that the stability issues can be overcome, even better if most if not all control are left the computer.
That is how jets are flown anymore. The pilot is a backup for most of the flight.
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Yes, nearly all piloting is computer driven today. And the stability of these hover devices is constantly increasing and already super impressive.
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@scottalanmiller said:
Yes, nearly all piloting is computer driven today. And the stability of these hover devices is constantly increasing and already super impressive.
Eh? Commercial piloting I assume you are referring to? Personal aircraft are still mostly pilot controlled.
To continue my thought from earlier though, when I say computer driven, I mean, you get in, type an address, sit back and relax until you arrive. Allowing people to willy nilly drive/fly these things all over town, I just can't see that working for the masses.
Think of something like 5th Element - flying car lanes, yet somehow you're able to leave the lane and simply fly/drive anywhere you want - udder chaos.
