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We wanted to prove that anyone could built something that can fly safely for *recreational* purposes, in his garage with a minimal amount of tools.
So we went FAR 103. (We do not need no stinkin badge carrying FSDO guy ...)
We did it, but as I stated, it took a lot of hours of calculations and simulations (we are Professional Engineers with over 40 years of aerospace experience each, under our belts, and are licensed pilots).
After we did that, anyone knows that we then started to think :
*Maybe we should do it this way or that way.*
Today, that single seater FAR 103 complaint flying contraption, has turned into a full fledged two-seater with an AW cert and N-Number. We did keep meticulous records, but we have absolutely NO plans to commercialise it !
(When the weight of 254 lbs max was exceeded, we mumbled *Oh well* and kept on going)
Somebody mentioned a motorcycle as a means of *transportation*
What we did can be compared to an ATV.
Recreation vs. Transportation.
Location: By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea
68,279 posts, read 54,055,448 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wheelsup
When I want to do something fun I go out and do it, I don't want to wait years to be able to do so. How many people build their own boats? A random few. Your comparison is horrid.
Funny, I'd say your insistence on instant gratification is juvenile
I've built a coupla boats, the building is as enjoyable as the sailing.
I could say your tunnel vision is horrid but it's really just uninspired.
Short wing span with those things on the tips that super liners have to increase lift...There is something just a little to experimental going on with this craft. It might not be well thought out. Other than that- I am terrified of flying - You are constantly stocked by the predator called gravity.
Location: By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea
68,279 posts, read 54,055,448 times
Reputation: 40566
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oleg Bach
Short wing span with those things on the tips that super liners have to increase lift...There is something just a little to experimental going on with this craft. It might not be well thought out. Other than that- I am terrified of flying - You are constantly stocked by the predator called gravity.
Personally, I'd rather deal with gravity than texters and jabberers aiming 2 ton projectiles at 70+ MPH with little regard for their own safety or anyone else's.
Personally, I'd rather deal with gravity than texters and jabberers aiming 2 ton projectiles at 70+ MPH with little regard for their own safety or anyone else's.
Agreed. By a horrifically wide margin, the most dangerous part of flying is the drive to/from the airport.
The days of opportunity for something like this (open source) are gone. Anyone bother to look around while driving in any major metro area? Drivers have no courtesy, no thought about others and basically border on reckless because they need to get someplace before anyone else needs to get to their place.
Now think about that $15k aircraft. Imagine now, the fools out there with hopped up Honda Civics and the like, all eager to race something. Now they'll have it. They can get a driver license, they'll get a pilot license too, it's just revenue to the government and the more the better.
Anyone really want some sunk in the seat, arm draping clown with blackout sunglasses hustling to land first ahead of everyone else? That is exactly what we'd have.
Personally, I'd rather deal with gravity than texters and jabberers aiming 2 ton projectiles at 70+ MPH with little regard for their own safety or anyone else's.
And you really think that those same types of people won't buy a 15k plane and do the same thing? Now you just added gravity in addition to kinetic energy to the problem.
When the scale of things are small, they are manageable, let it become prevalent and what goes on in everyday life will go on there too. Texters and phone yappers all flying around without any regard for anyone else.
It wouldn't or won't happen? How long did it take with cars? Not even a decade.
Agreed. By a horrifically wide margin, the most dangerous part of flying is the drive to/from the airport.
Yes on a 121 commercial flight that is true.
Adjusted for total hours to compare apples to apples, the recent numbers I saw showed GA about 20x more dangerous (as in dying) than driving per hour operated.
Small and medium sized GA aircraft/flying have a lot of "cons" when it comes to safety. In general, lower time inexperienced pilots (as compared to people who fly 5-6 hours a day professionally), less capable equipment such as FIKI (boots and/or heated surfaces), lack of weather penetration equipment (NEXRAD is nice but not a substitute for real time weather RADAR), operations from smaller airports with less services (lack of ILS, maybe just a non-precision approach), the list goes on.
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