Next.. HoverSegs???

[macgeek]

Flying saucers go into production

http://www.ananova.com/images/web/1061884.jpg

A flying saucer that glides three metres off the ground and carries two passengers has gone into commercial production.

US company Moller International has begun to manufacture parts for its Jetsons-like personal flying pod, the M200G Volantor.

The M200G Volantor which has gone into commercial production /www.wenn.com

The M200G is the size of a small car and is designed to take off and land vertically, reports Sky News.

Company founder Dr Moller calls the craft "the ultimate off-road vehicle" as it is able to travel over any surface.

"It's not a hovercraft, although its operation is just as easy," said the aeronautical engineering boffin.

"You can speed over rocks, swampland, fences, or log-infested waterways with ease because you're not limited by the surface."

The flying saucer is designed to fly at an altitude of up to three metres, where it benefits from extra lift created by a cushion of air - known as ground effect.

This allows the M200G to glide over terrain at 50mph, powered by eight of the Company's Rotapower rotary engines.

Moller International has not arranged for training or licensing requirements to operate the vehicle.

But it is prepared to offer demonstration sessions at its California base once the vehicle is ready for market.

The company has said the price for its M200G could start as low as £44,340 depending on the number ordered.


http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2445850.html?menu=news.quirkies

[bystander]

Flying saucers go into production



Very interesting, of course.

But if one digs a little, one will find all the photos and videos are from a few years back.

The reason for the recent hype is that they're trying to generate capital for a company in Romania that is going to build the engines.

There are several redundant engines on the vehicle for safety reasons.

The engines must be mass-produced in order to be economical for the project to suceed.

Sort of a chicken and egg problem. Until the engines are dependable and low cost, they won't be able to sell enough "saucers" at a price people will be willing to pay.

I guess that sounds familiar...

[pam]

Well, it appears to think it's going to price out at twice the cost of a moderately high end car (not counting the extremely high end <G>). Yep, this is going to be a limited production, I'm guessing. :)
Pam

[bystander]

Well, it appears to think it's going to price out at twice the cost of a moderately high end car (not counting the extremely high end <G>). Yep, this is going to be a limited production, I'm guessing. :)
PamWhere's Steve?

Isn't he going to tell us he could outfit an entire Segpolo team for the cost of just one of these "saucers"?

[quade]

Moller is selling smoke and mirrors.

He's been pushing this junk on people for DECADES and taken millions of dollars from investors and has almost nothing "real" to show for it. Yet the media continues to swallow his stories up.

Go to his web site and read some of the claims he makes on his designs. Impossible.

[polo_pro]

Where's Steve?

Isn't he going to tell us he could outfit an entire Segpolo team for the cost of just one of these "saucers"?

Uh...I was playing polo today! 8^) 8^) 8^)

Actually, I also did a tire mounting demo to at a local tour company that's about to replace dozens of tires. Thanks, cmonkey...your expertise has helped more folks!

As to the "flying saucer", I was thinking to myself, maybe they should change the company name to something sounding like Telsa. Telsa Motors somehow have got LOTS of people to lay out BIG bucks, eh?

ps - yeah, yeah, I know the flying saucer isn't powered by electricity! BTW, if you want to see another chicken-and-egg problem involving motors, look at the Sinclair's C5. They found a solution for their dilemna...but the compromise ended up being a poor choice.