Oak Ridge Person and Their Flying Machine (Dunlap: home, cost)

[LauraC]

I was down by the lake in Oak Ridge this morning, with my camera, when all of a sudden this person appeared in the sky. There was no boat pulling them. Look at this thing --- it has wheels, like it lands and takes off. How does it get airborne? The guy (although it could have been a gal) was just driving it around up there in the sky. What is it? Anyone know? Even the birds were checking it out. The guy took off in the distance or I would have waited until he landed to ask questions. (It was hazy this morning.)

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[Tinman313]

Powered Chute..... around the cost of a mid class motor cycle. Dunlap,TN in the area has hang gliding.

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by Tinman313

Power Chute..... around the cost of a mid class motor cycle. Dunlap,TN in the area has hang gliding.

How do they get airborne?

[Tinman313]

The chute is held up by PVC pipe then once the unit starts to roll the chute fills full of air the PVC falls away and with in 30-40 feet you have lift off. The shroud lines on either side of the fan cage pivot giving you left~right. Up~Down more or less throttle. When you land you roll out and come to a slow stop either by brake or gravity. The chute just goes flat.....The engine is 20+hp air cooled with a 3 blade pusher propeller.... Go Kart tires....

http://www.easyflight.com/

http://mcu.home.att.net/

http://www.treetoppers.org/

[Katsmeeyow]

Wow! Great explanation!

[Tinman313]

It's on my too do list of crazy things to do when I get to Tennessee......

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by Tinman313

It's on my too do list of crazy things to do when I get to Tennessee......

Wow! I appreciate the explanation. Never saw anything like it. What kind of place sells something like this?

[Tinman313]

If you look around and you have interest in anything you will fine your adventure on the Internet.
If this is not crazy enough for you then you can go this route........just got to run really good...........

http://members.aol.com/FLYDealer/FLYusa.html

[Tinman313]

Next time you are out side take notice of the birds. Especially birds of pray, buzzards hawks vultures they will be circling. They are riding on a up welling of air current. You will find the up welling above very large trees and ridge line and step slopes and very large building. This is where you find people enjoying gliding and hang gliding and powered parachute. They are not allowed in most states to fly over cities.........

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by Tinman313

Next time you are out side take notice of the birds. Especially birds of pray, buzzards hawks vultures they will be circling. They are riding on a up welling of air current. You will find the up welling above very large trees and ridge line and step slopes and very large building. This is where you find people enjoying gliding and hang gliding and powered parachute. They are not allowed in most states to fly over cities.........

I'm guessing he's not allowed to fly over the Oak Ridge reservation. He hugged the treeline on the opposite shore (of where I was standing) of the lake but when he left I was hoping he'd fly over on my side so I could get a better look at the thing. Instead he took off in the opposite direction. I was excited when the bird (think it's a goose) flew into the photo but I'm thinking the pilot/driver probably wasn't all that thrilled to see a big bird.