Home > Moller Skycar

As motorways become more and more clogged up with traffic, a new generation of flying cars will be needed to ferry people along skyways. That is the verdict of engineers from the US space agency and aeronautical firms, who envision future commuters travelling by "skycar".

The device currently under development, the M400, is intended to ultimately transport four people. It is described as a car since it is aimed at being a popular means of transport anyone can drive, incorporating automated flight controls. The driver should only input direction and speed, no pilot knowledge being required.

Also it is argued that using inexpensive engines ( Wankel type) and hardware, its price will eventually fall close to that of a quality car, even if at the moment the price for the first units is expected to be close to $ 1 million.

Its features include 350 mph cruise speed, eight low-emission Wankel engines, garage size, fuel consumption like a big car, a parachute for the whole machine and road capacity for short distances (to be driven to a take-off facility - called vertiport).

The main drawbacks will be fuel consumption and noise. Even if fuel consumption is eventually the same as a car, it is clear, given their high speeds, that these vehicles would be used for much longer commuting and travelling trips, therefore increasing total emissions notably. Such vehicles could not be used in metropolitan areas for everyday trips without greatly disturbing the peace. But their use could bring decisive operating advantages as patrols, firefighter and ambulance vehicles.

Some believe that the "Moller Skycar" is a vaporware component of an investment scam.

See also Flying car, Transport and AutomobileAn automobile usually called a car (an old word for carriage) or a truck is a wheeled vehicle that carries its own engine. Older terms include horseless carriage and motor car with "motor" referring to what is now usually called the engine. The act of ope.

External links

• Moller International
• A formal claim of fraud against Moller International from the SEC website.
• MIT, Technology Review, May 23, 2003, An Aircar in Every Garage? Quote: "...This vision could be realized sooner than you think. The technology of personal VTOL transportation is "expanding and will soon be exploding," says Bushnell..."
• Overview of Skycar and transportation Quote: "... The M400 uses gasoline. Depending on altitude and cruise speed, the Skycar can be expected to get 18 to 22 mpg. Each takeoff requires approximately 1/10 gallon of gas. The M400's rotary engines will soon be capable of using other fuels, such as methanolProperties General Name Methanol Chemical formula C H OH Formula weight 32. 04 amu Synonyms Methyl alcohol, wood alcohol, carbinol. CAS number 67-56-1 Phase behavior Melting point 176 K (-97 °C) Boiling point 337. 7°C) Triple point 175. 7°C) ? bar Critica, ethanol, jet fuel, dieselThis article is about the fuel. For other uses see diesel (disambiguation). Diesel is a product used as a fuel in a diesel engine invented by Rudolf Diesel, and perfected by Charles F. Petrodiesel One can obtain diesel from petroleum, which is called petr, liquid natural gasLiquified Natural Gas (LNG) is natural gas which has been artificially condensed into a liquid form by a combination of pressurisation and cryogenic cooling. Liquefaction greatly increases the density of the hydrocarbon allowing it to be stored and transp, and hydrogenhydrogen helium H Li Full table General Name, Symbol, NumberHydrogen, H, 1 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 1 (IA), 1 , s Density, Hardness 0. 0899 kg/m3, NA Appearance colorless Atomic properties Atomic weight 1. 00794 amu Atomic radius (ca...."
• Overview of Skycar and transportation Quote: "...The Skycar operates under adverse conditions - its compact shape makes it flyable at night, in fog, in most storms, high winds, microbursts, and conditions other light aircraft cannot handle [--]- however, tornadoes, thunderstorms, severe icing, and hurricanes will need to be avoided...."
• Overview of Skycar and transportation Quote: "...the Skycar is expected to be as quiet as a delivery truck on takeoff and landing - 70 decibels at 50 feet [16 m]..."