[extropy-chat] Recreational Technologies

[Kara Devar]

That air scooter looks like a hoot!  Probably slightly more risk than an 
out-of-traffic-motorcycle.   (Oh boy--me on just a bicycle is enough 
entertainment for the neighbors and don't get me started on the new "Land 
Rollers." As a child I  never learned to skate but at age 42, I discovered 
this great improvement to Rollerblade technology and spend four days at 
"skate camp for middle-agers" in Hilton Head.  (Okay--old farts.)   What a 
blast!   I look like the Michelin man, but I have a great time.  I highly 
recommend "Land Rollers" to anyone who likes the Roller Blade concept but 
appreciates small companies implementing better designs.)  Anyway, for the 
air scooter I'd gear up as for motocross, train-up and have a blast!  (No 
wind blasts, thank you.)


I appreciate your interesting information and your kind response.

Thank you!
Kara

----- Original Message ----- 
From: ""Hal Finney"" <hal at finney.org>
To: <extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org>
Sent: Friday, March 10, 2006 8:05 PM
Subject: Re: [extropy-chat] Fw: Hydrogen cars


> Kara Devar writes:
>>I love the "helicopter" idea, but it's a lot harder than it looks.  I have
>>30+ hours on helicopters and although I did well, I regretfully decided 
>>I'd
>>better stop until I could at least afford to fly one with a huge amount of
>>horsepower ($1,000,000 purchase--before maintenance and insurance.  Don't
>>even think about long-term rental.)  I was training in a Robinson 
>>R22--$250
>>per hour and one step above a lawn chair and a propeller-beanie.  My
>>instructor and one of his other students were both body-builders.  We're 
>>at
>>sea level, but they'd go out, sit on the roof, fire up the rotor, and walk
>>back disgusted because there just wasn't enough air that day.  100 lbs
>>under the designated weight, but still not safe to fly.
>
> That's a great story, Kara.  Congrats on delurking.
>
> For those for whom the R22 is "too much helicopter" there are a couple of
> even smaller, experimental "personal helicopters" that I know of.  Here is
> one from Japan, the Gen H-4: <http://www.gen-corp.jp/GENH-4_en/index.htm>.
> However I don't know if they are still in business, it says it "will
> be" available in 2000.  It could just be that the English language page
> hasn't been updated.  One problem is that 150 pound pilot weight.  That
> won't get far with Americans.
>
> Those on the heftier side will like the AirScooter II,
> <http://www.airscooter.com/pages/airscooter_main.htm>.  Like the Gen H-4
> it has a coaxial blade, so no tail rotor is needed.  However useful load
> is 350 pounds.  It uses a much larger, four stroke engine so should be
> quieter; on the other hand the Gen H-4 has four small engines and can
> fly with only three of them.  The AirScooter has gotten quite a bit of
> press this past year, I've seen a few articles on it.
>
> Both craft claim about 55 mph speeds, and the AirScooter claims a two
> hour endurance so you could go about 100 miles.  It's not necessarily
> faster than a car but at least you could go in a straight line and maybe
> save time that way.
>
> Both would be considered experimental aircraft in the U.S. which would
> mean they could not be flown over "congested areas", meaning basically
> any urban or suburban region.  Maybe if you stayed 40 feet in the air
> and just followed the freeways you could make a case for it being OK
> (unless the freeway was "congested" I guess!).
>
> The bottom line is that these are not really practical transportation
> systems, they are just for fun.  The AirScooter is supposed to come out
> this year and sell for less than $50,000.  The H-4 was going to be a
> little cheaper but I don't know what ever happened with it.
>
> Hal
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