Hovercraft do not go as fast or as high as this. According to the claims, the hoverbike can do 170 MPH at 10,000 feet. I guess that could be possible, but I'll believe it when I see it.Sean951 said:
Australian Unveils Prototype Hoverbike
- Thread starter Earnest Cavalli
- Start date
Finally an invention we can be proud of!
Apart from the Black box
and the Hills hoist
and wire-guided torpedoes.
Apart from the Black box
and the Hills hoist
and wire-guided torpedoes.
I love the fact that this machine might actually exist and work, but I am also deadly afraid of mutilations, lacerations and possible decapitations.
Although riding at 120 on a 2 ton steel vehicle shouldnt make me feel safe either, perhaps it is an unconcious fear taht will fade once I see it working.
Although riding at 120 on a 2 ton steel vehicle shouldnt make me feel safe either, perhaps it is an unconcious fear taht will fade once I see it working.
More or less, I think we're both talking about the same thing. The swashplate causes the AoA to increase as the rotor is passing through the aft portion of its rotation and this has the effect of tilting the disc (somewhat), which in turn pitches the aircraft. To generate forward speed, a helicopter will need pitch down and collective-up, but the initial pitch is cause by some rotor disc tilt, generated by increased lift aft of the rotor hub.Insomniac55 said:
The result to an observer outside the aircraft is that the entire aircraft pitches as a solid object, however the view from inside is that the rotor disc does tilt. You're a probably more correct, though, as more speed will be generated as a result of pitching the entire aircraft rather than just tilting the disc. A good example where disc-tilt can be demonstrated is a wheeled helicopter taxing, such as an S-70 Blackhawk. Because it is on the ground the airframe cannot pitch, though it can still taxi forwards under its own power.
I like your theories on stable flight for the hover bike, however the hardware you mention doesn't appear evident in the photos, hence my scepticism. Not to mention his outlandish claims on the performance envelope!
