Posted on 08/02/2007 3:47:19 PM PDT by Kevmo
A flying saucer that glides 10 feet off the ground and carries two passengers has gone into commercial production.
Moller International, based in Davis, Calif., has begun to manufacture parts for its Jetsons-like personal flying pod, the M200G Volantor.
The M200G is the size of a small car and is designed to take off and land vertically.
• Click here to see a video of an M200 prototype in action.
Company founder Paul Moller, in a press release, called 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 Moller, a retired professor of mechanical engineering at the University of California at Davis. "You can speed over rocks, swampland, fences or log-infested waterways with ease, because you're not limited by the surface."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
But then, when you go over to Moller's website, it claims that it IS a ground effect vehicle. It only flies 10 FEET above the ground. That's a far cry from a flying car. http://www.moller.com/files/M200_Production_starts.pdf
For your ping list, so they can throw darts at Moller...
Video I linked is a different model then the one in the Fox report. Haven’t seen the Fox report one
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
California will shut him down unless it is eco friendly green, it’s manufacture has a very low carbon footprint, and meets or exceeds CAFE standards for mileage.
Not to mention is biodegradable and completely Vegan.
This would make an awesome combat UAV.
Under FAA rules?
The video shows it still tethered to a crane. I don’t think it is ready for marketing yet...........
10 feet off the ground would be great in heavy snow. And in flooding too, assuming it can fly 10 feet above water. If these catch on at all, it’s going to require a whole new legal structure for traffic laws!
Well just like Mr. Loofah I'm sure it blows.
He will just have to do what so many other businesses are doing: move out of Khalifornistan. There's forty-nine other states and many of them are much friendlier to do business in.
Moller XM4
He has been selling “info packs” for years.
This thing is like free energy, lots of hype but no real examples. The “prototype” has only ever flown tethered. It will never get certified unless it proves it can fly safely.
Looks like a gas guzzler.
Looks like a gas guzzler.
They sure could have used a bunch of these in Minneapolis today. The guy is planning to offer a “rescue configuration” with the ability to “dock with skyscrapers” (??? very short skyscrapers?). But for rescue in water (it does do water, per the brochure) or snowy mountains, it sounds like it could really save a lot of lives. My guess is that will be its main application for the foreseeable future.
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