Posted on 12/14/2021 12:49:12 PM PST by Red Badger
Africa's all-electric Phractyl Macrobat birdoplane will squat back, tilt its wings skyward, and perform "near vertical" takeoff and landingPhractyl VIEW 5 IMAGES
African startup Phractyl has shown us a concept unlike anything we've seen before – or are likely to see again, if we're honest. With tracked feet, bird legs, a tilting cabin and tilting wings, this avant-garde absurdity promises "near-VTOL" flight. Africa, says new electric aircraft startup Phractyl, is in a pretty unique situation as the eVTOL wave begins to break, since it's got so little in the way of ground transport infrastructure.
So aircraft that can take off and land vertically – without needing runways or helipads, or carrying the high costs of helicopters – could make an impact way beyond just cutting down commute times for grey-suited stockbrokers that don't want to take the train. They could make an absolutely transformational difference.
So a small team assembled under the name Phractyl to create an African solution to an African problem, and they came up with this, the Macrobat – a "near vertical takeoff and landing," or NVTOL aircraft with bird legs, tracked feet and some further weirdness going on around the wings, which appear to be able to partially tilt.
What on Earth is going on here? Well, the tracked feet give this machine some very mild multi-terrain capabilities. Wheels might fare better on rough ground, but then you'd need more than two of them to balance. So tracks it is, for better or worse.
(Excerpt) Read more at newatlas.com ...
Cute.
Any relation to real-life AVIATION is, however, purely coincidental.
Other than fishing for investors while playing all the politically/environmentally correct soundbites possible, I don’t really see much but an extravagant concept presentation for a drone.
Seems like small jet engines would be better.
I think its on this one.
BBC - Future - Africa’s homemade aircraft builder
Looks like a decent kite...
You too, huh ?
Always got big applause from folks on the chair lifts :-)
Pepper Potts...my heart throb!
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Does it use gas or worms to fly?
ED209 can fly! “YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS TO COMPLY!”
Theres a well known saying in aerospace design: “if it dont look right, it ain’t right”. This thing does look right. I give it a Thumbs up!
Unskilled labor is pretty cheap in Africa, so that will help hold the cost down.
the grey-suited businessman can’t just jump in it and take off for work, unless he is a licensed pilot.
Depends on the weight. Did they ever raise the weight limit for a LSA to 3600 pounds? I know it was discussed a few years ago.
That is gorgeous! I hope it flourishes.
Yep, me, too. lol … “If you can’t be good, at least be entertaining” … that’s what I used to tell myself and my ego. Seriously good times :) Skiing is way too much fun.
“Those legs are completely over engineered.”
And heavier than needed. Looks like a third of the total empty weight is legs.
Wow! Africa has Photoshop!
It’s carrier rated. They always have beefier gear.
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