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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2010 : 04:20:59 [Permalink]
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| As The Rat pointed out, these monsters keep popping up all the time. And every time they do, it's with journalistic flourishes that make it sound like the concept is brand new. Flying cars are lousy aircraft and poor cars to boot. |
“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
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The Rat
SFN Regular
Canada
1370 Posts |
 Posted - 07/04/2010 : 16:25:35 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by Chippewa
However the seaplane remains a viable design concept. Seaplanes with central hulls are in essence flying boats. Seaplanes with pontoons are in essence flying catamarans - though they're not called that, just float planes. I think this is because the seaplane doesn't sacrifice aeronautics. In other words, its a 100% airplane that can takeoff and land on water, not a ship that turns into an airplane. |
Or you could go the Ekranoplan route.
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Bailey's second law; There is no relationship between the three virtues of intelligence, education, and wisdom.
You fiend! Never have I encountered such corrupt and foul-minded perversity! Have you ever considered a career in the Church? - The Bishop of Bath and Wells, Blackadder II
Baculum's page: http://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=3947338590 |
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Chippewa
SFN Regular
USA
1496 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2010 : 23:08:48 [Permalink]
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There are (or were) some movies of the massive Russian examples in action on YouTube, pretty fast and amazing. They're all in mothballs now or worse, sitting dilapidated in Russian dry docks.
Not quite the same thing but I rode the hydrofoil ferryboat from Hong Kong to Macao and back about 10 years ago and it was terrific. |
Diversity, independence, innovation and imagination are progressive concepts ultimately alien to the conservative mind.
"TAX AND SPEND" IS GOOD! (TAX: Wealthy corporations who won't go poor even after taxes. SPEND: On public works programs, education, the environment, improvements.) |
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sailingsoul
SFN Addict
2830 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2010 : 06:55:31 [Permalink]
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| Interesting information, the Ekranoplan is not a plane or seaplane. It doesn't fly like a plane. It's a Ground Effect Vehicle. It's "wing" design is not intended provide lift like a plane wing does. Once it get up to speed, it rides on a layer of air between the undersides of the winglets and body, and the water surface. As we know, a planes wing produces lift and does not ride on a layer of air between the wing and ground. There have been many different designs built, of all sizes, probably more than flying cars because of costs requirement. SS |
There are only two types of religious people, the deceivers and the deceived. SS |
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filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2010 : 07:54:15 [Permalink]
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The greatest fliers of them all....
Then:
And now:
Even the Space Shuttle ain't a patch on these guys, which makes flying cars a subject worthy of little more than ridicule and derision.
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"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist! 
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| Edited by - filthy on 07/05/2010 08:16:56 |
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bngbuck
SFN Addict
USA
2437 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2010 : 23:38:23 [Permalink]
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Filthy.....
Although I doubt that it will be in the form of an ornithopter, it is my opinion - literally - that the concepts of flying cars, flying boats, and floating or road-worthy airplanes will all eventually be replaced by a completely practical VTOL transportation machine which can offer at least the statistical probability of safe descent that an airplane or helicopter does in the event of power failure.
Transportation by air - vertical and horizontal - offers so much more logistical efficiency than surface transportation does, that the devil in the details will eventually be defeated. We have already defeated gravity. We're just not very good at it yet! |
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filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
 Posted - 07/06/2010 : 03:06:35 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by bngbuck
Filthy.....
Although I doubt that it will be in the form of an ornithopter, it is my opinion - literally - that the concepts of flying cars, flying boats, and floating or road-worthy airplanes will all eventually be replaced by a completely practical VTOL transportation machine which can offer at least the statistical probability of safe descent that an airplane or helicopter does in the event of power failure.
Transportation by air - vertical and horizontal - offers so much more logistical efficiency than surface transportation does, that the devil in the details will eventually be defeated. We have already defeated gravity. We're just not very good at it yet!
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Ah, but at what cost? The Pterosaurs and the Condor sneer at gravity (temperately -- gravity always wins) for little more than a scrap of fish and a bit of carrion, respectively. For us to do the same requires an infrastructure, even if it's no more than a hang glider. And then you still need a ride home. 
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"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist!
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Valiant Dancer
Forum Goalie
USA
4826 Posts |
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Chippewa
SFN Regular
USA
1496 Posts |
Posted - 07/06/2010 : 20:37:56 [Permalink]
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonov_A-40
Russian experimental flying tank. (Actually conceived as a way to tow and transport tanks behind enemy lines in WWII. Tested but not used.) |
Diversity, independence, innovation and imagination are progressive concepts ultimately alien to the conservative mind.
"TAX AND SPEND" IS GOOD! (TAX: Wealthy corporations who won't go poor even after taxes. SPEND: On public works programs, education, the environment, improvements.) |
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Flying car? Really?
