Armed Polite Society

Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: Ben on October 31, 2013, 01:33:26 PM

Title: Skyrunner ATV
Post by: Ben on October 31, 2013, 01:33:26 PM
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.

(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flyskyrunner.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F09%2Fprototype02.jpg&hash=217fb4acfb8624ba2b58cbb8063dcc79a783bd50)

(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flyskyrunner.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F09%2Fpicturebar.jpg&hash=ad638ee48cf3c7b181e3fbc919576ceae7c3818d)

http://www.flyskyrunner.com/#tiptop
Title: Re: Skyrunner ATV
Post by: geronimotwo on October 31, 2013, 06:51:07 PM
very cool!  i'm betting half of that price must be for liability insurance!    so, is it entirely prop powered [no apparent driveshafts]?
Title: Re: Skyrunner ATV
Post by: drewtam on October 31, 2013, 07:19:52 PM
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.
Title: Re: Skyrunner ATV
Post by: Tallpine on October 31, 2013, 09:33:22 PM
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.
Title: Re: Skyrunner ATV
Post by: AZRedhawk44 on October 31, 2013, 09:36:44 PM
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:

(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flyskyrunner.com%2Fwp-content%2Fthemes%2Fskyrunner-theme%2Fimages%2Fintro-bg3.jpg&hash=75f3b088c74033e92f0ce4aa12b3a8fd8b2939e1)
Title: Re: Skyrunner ATV
Post by: drewtam on October 31, 2013, 11:45:59 PM
Engine has to hold you in the air as well as go forward.

Yes, the most inefficient way possible, a parachute.
Title: Re: Skyrunner ATV
Post by: tokugawa on November 01, 2013, 02:04:55 AM
did you folks see any video?  That thing is heavy!  Roughly 950lbs without humans? What do normal trike type parawings weigh?
Title: Re: Skyrunner ATV
Post by: geronimotwo on November 01, 2013, 02:16:53 AM
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:

(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flyskyrunner.com%2Fwp-content%2Fthemes%2Fskyrunner-theme%2Fimages%2Fintro-bg3.jpg&hash=75f3b088c74033e92f0ce4aa12b3a8fd8b2939e1)

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
Title: Re: Skyrunner ATV
Post by: Sergeant Bob on November 01, 2013, 09:37:39 AM
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.
Title: Re: Skyrunner ATV
Post by: AZRedhawk44 on November 01, 2013, 10:44:30 AM

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:

(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fglobal.fncstatic.com%2Fstatic%2Fmanaged%2Fimg%2FLeisure%2F2009%2Fskyrunner-wing-660.jpg&hash=b95a59395cef291f138630201be6c7c09dadf3a1)

Funny how the meat-world implementation for photo shoots doesn't have a drive shaft. :lol:
Title: Re: Skyrunner ATV
Post by: Tallpine on November 01, 2013, 11:17:33 AM
Quote
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  ;/
Title: Re: Skyrunner ATV
Post by: AZRedhawk44 on November 01, 2013, 11:22:58 AM


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

But... master chief!

(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F86bb71d19d3bcb79effc-d9e6924a0395cb1b5b9f03b7640d26eb.r91.cf1.rackcdn.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2007%2F08%2Fhalo-warthog.jpg&hash=f2507ced2080ef9614e9f52efa62fd60ead6e241)
Title: Re: Skyrunner ATV
Post by: Tallpine on November 01, 2013, 11:38:59 AM
(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ianfleming.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F09%2Fchitty_film.jpg&hash=831fb19aedbe0f9981b6b33b0cbca6c120e48991)
Title: Re: Skyrunner ATV
Post by: MillCreek on November 01, 2013, 11:45:56 AM
^^^ Great.

Now I will have 'Bang. Bang. Chitty chitty bang bang' going through my head all day.
Title: Re: Skyrunner ATV
Post by: Tallpine on November 01, 2013, 11:51:48 AM
^^^ 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  :facepalm:
Title: Re: Skyrunner ATV
Post by: MechAg94 on November 01, 2013, 12:15:34 PM
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.
Title: Re: Skyrunner ATV
Post by: AZRedhawk44 on November 01, 2013, 12:34:30 PM
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.
Title: Re: Skyrunner ATV
Post by: Triphammer on November 01, 2013, 12:41:34 PM
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!
Title: Re: Skyrunner ATV
Post by: geronimotwo on November 01, 2013, 01:08:44 PM
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.....