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It's a bird... and a plane? Africa's own bizarre "NVTOL" birdoplane
https://newatlas.com ^
| December 10, 2021
| By Loz Blain
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 ...
TOPICS: Business/Economy; Military/Veterans; Sports; Travel
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To: 04-Bravo; 1FASTGLOCK45; 1stFreedom; 2ndDivisionVet; 2sheds; 60Gunner; 6AL-4V; A.A. Cunningham; ...
AVIATION Ping!..............
2
posted on
12/14/2021 12:49:59 PM PST
by
Red Badger
(Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
To: Red Badger
Leave your parachute at home.
To: alternatives?
VIDEO AT LINK........................
4
posted on
12/14/2021 12:51:28 PM PST
by
Red Badger
(Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
To: Red Badger
5
posted on
12/14/2021 12:52:06 PM PST
by
Pollard
(PureBlood -- youtube.com/watch?v=VXm0fkDituE)
To: Red Badger
6
posted on
12/14/2021 12:52:18 PM PST
by
NurdlyPeon
(It is the nature of liberals to pervert whatever they touch.)
To: Red Badger
7
posted on
12/14/2021 12:54:19 PM PST
by
N. Theknow
(Kennedys-Can't drive, can't ski, can't fly, can't skipper a boat-But they know what's best for you.)
To: Red Badger
8
posted on
12/14/2021 12:54:35 PM PST
by
N. Theknow
(Kennedys-Can't drive, can't ski, can't fly, can't skipper a boat-But they know what's best for you.)
To: NurdlyPeon
Strange enough me too.
It reminds a little of the big droid in the first Robcop movie in that stance.
9
posted on
12/14/2021 12:54:40 PM PST
by
wally_bert
(I cannot be sure for certain, but in my personal opinion I am certain that I am not sure.)
To: Red Badger
10
posted on
12/14/2021 12:54:57 PM PST
by
mylife
(Christmas is cancelled, all the reindeer have Covid and a red nose, Donner and Prancer and Vaxxen)
To: Red Badger
Them’s the biggest pair of Air Jordan’s I’ve ever seen.
To: Red Badger
Like a small scale osprey.
The new short-runway Tundras have more cargo capacity.
12
posted on
12/14/2021 12:55:46 PM PST
by
lurk
( )
To: Red Badger
13
posted on
12/14/2021 12:55:53 PM PST
by
mylife
(Christmas is cancelled, all the reindeer have Covid and a red nose, Donner and Prancer and Vaxxen)
To: Red Badger
Those blades are really close to the cockpit. You do have a chance if you parachute. A small chance.
To: Pollard
If illustrations could fly they’d be in business.
Looks like something out of the Marvel universe.
15
posted on
12/14/2021 12:56:13 PM PST
by
tet68
( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
To: N. Theknow
ISWYDT......................
16
posted on
12/14/2021 12:56:59 PM PST
by
Red Badger
(Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
To: Red Badger
I see that and immediately think of my many spectacular face plants while skiing and mountain biking.
17
posted on
12/14/2021 12:57:14 PM PST
by
GBA
(Endeavor to persevere)
To: alternatives?
Leave your parachute at home.
I wouldn’t get in that thing even sitting on the ground.
18
posted on
12/14/2021 12:57:26 PM PST
by
tet68
( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
To: Pollard
Hmmm, it looks kind of familiar...
19
posted on
12/14/2021 12:58:22 PM PST
by
Sicon
("All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." - G. Orwell)
To: Red Badger
Its brother:
20
posted on
12/14/2021 1:02:41 PM PST
by
frogjerk
(I will not do business with fascists)
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