Skyrunner ATV

[Ben]

On sale now for $120K. Other than the price, I think it would be a hoot and awesome for backcountry exploration. Looks like the commercial one is a single seater. I'd prefer the prototype, which was a two-seater. If you're not carrying a second person,  you could carry out your deer meat.





http://www.flyskyrunner.com/#tiptop

[geronimotwo]

very cool!  i'm betting half of that price must be for liability insurance!    so, is it entirely prop powered [no apparent driveshafts]?

[drewtam]

So I did the math.

43mpg @ 55mph cruising on the ground.
25mpg @ 35mph cruising in the air.

In other words, travel by air is slower and less fuel efficient. So only use it when you absolutely have to.

[Tallpine]

So I did the math.

43mpg @ 55mph cruising on the ground.
25mpg @ 35mph cruising in the air.

In other words, travel by air is slower and less fuel efficient. So only use it when you absolutely have to.

Engine has to hold you in the air as well as go forward.

[AZRedhawk44]

very cool!  i'm betting half of that price must be for liability insurance!    so, is it entirely prop powered [no apparent driveshafts]?

OP's pic lacks a rear wheel driveshaft, but this one has one:

[drewtam]

Engine has to hold you in the air as well as go forward.

Yes, the most inefficient way possible, a parachute.

[tokugawa]

did you folks see any video?  That thing is heavy!  Roughly 950lbs without humans? What do normal trike type parawings weigh?

[geronimotwo]

i' don't know about the parawings, but as i recall the airframe (less engine) on a piper cub type aircraft is under 400lbs.

OP's pic lacks a rear wheel driveshaft, but this one has one:

it almost looks photoshopped with the drive shaft.  they do mention having a transmission however.

eta,  piper cub specs say 680lbs dry weight with a 65hp inline 4.

http://www.pilotfriend.com/aircraft%20performance/Piper/1/1.htm

[Sergeant Bob]

OP's pic lacks a rear wheel driveshaft, but this one has one:

it almost looks photoshopped with the drive shaft.  they do mention having a transmission however.

Also, in AZ's post, the drive shaft appears to be attached to a transmission (photoshopped or not) which does not appear to be in the image in the OP.

[AZRedhawk44]

it almost looks photoshopped with the drive shaft.  they do mention having a transmission however.

That whole picture is some sort of digital rendering.  Nothing real about it at all.

Here's a pic of prototype #2:



Funny how the meat-world implementation for photo shoots doesn't have a drive shaft.

[Tallpine]

piper cub specs say 680lbs dry weight with a 65hp inline 4

That would be a "horizontally opposed" four ("flat four").


****

The tires and wheels on the pictured contraption are weigh too heavy for an aircraft of that size 

[AZRedhawk44]

The tires and wheels on the pictured contraption are weigh too heavy for an aircraft of that size 

But... master chief!

[Tallpine]

[MillCreek]

^^^ Great.

Now I will have 'Bang. Bang. Chitty chitty bang bang' going through my head all day.

[Tallpine]

^^^ Great.

Now I will have 'Bang. Bang. Chitty chitty bang bang' going through my head all day.

If they cut out all the singing and dick-van-dancing, that movie would be five minutes long 

[MechAg94]

All the have to do is add some pontoons and a front skid and it would be a water craft also.  Even bigger mud tires might do the job.  I would sort of rather have that capability over flying, but all three would be very cool.  Land, Sea, and Air ATV.

[AZRedhawk44]

All the have to do is add some pontoons and a front skid and it would be a water craft also.  Even bigger mud tires might do the job.  I would sort of rather have that capability over flying, but all three would be very cool.  Land, Sea, and Air ATV.

It would land on water, but I doubt it would be able to take off once landed.  Lots more friction from floats or a hull than from rolling wheels.

But, as long as you do a water-landing somewhere that has a suitable beachhead to roll up onto, and an open area to get back in the air, yeah... it'd be cool.  But if you have the open area for take-off anyways, might as well land there rather than the water.

[Triphammer]

Well, you wouldn't  know if there were unseen obstructions in the field, maybe some stuff on the beach would need to be moved before using it to takeoff. And, you could fish from it!

[geronimotwo]

It would land on water, but I doubt it would be able to take off once landed.  Lots more friction from floats or a hull than from rolling wheels.

just fill the big balloon tires with helium, and you're good to go.

better yet. a dirigible type removable airframe!  just tie it down before removing it.....