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Skycar

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Submitted By Andrew11
Words 387
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Vo - lan - tor (vo-lan'ter) n. A vertical takeoff and landing aircraft that is capable of flying in a quick, nimble, and agile manner. --intr. & tr.v. -tored, -toring, tors. To go or carry by volantor. [Lat. volare, to fly. Fr. volant, to move in a nimble and agile manner] The Skycar is capable of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) similar to a helicopter and flies from point of departure to destination much like an airplane. However, the Skycar has been designed to also travel at low speed for short distances on the ground like an automobile. It has fold-up wings which make it narrow enough to be useable on roadways. All this and, incredibly, it's easy to fly! Actually we believe that most of "flying" will be done by the on-board systems. The aircraft is controlled by the pilot providing inputs for direction, speed and altitude through the simple controls and the on-board systems interpret these inputs to do the flying...it is called a "fly by wire" system. Therefore operating a Skycar, while very easy, could be done by someone with little training or flight experience, but will, at least initially, require a private pilot's license until the ease of operation and safety are thoroughly demonstrated. The Moller Skycar is a volantor capable of these remarkable capabilities through the use of latest proprietary technologies developed by Moller International. Favorable power to weight ratio is the basic qualification for VTOL. However, in order to create a safe, environmentally responsible and economically feasible method of transportation Moller International had to take into consideration a number of components including airframe and engines. There is a real opportunity to create a unique airplane centered on the use of nacelles similar to those produced for the Skycar 400.The low by-pass ratio of the small turbo-fans, for example the PW 600 series, leads to high fuel consumption relative to the thrust produced. Two rotary engine driven nacelles on the sides of a four or six-place clean airplane would provide airspeeds in excess of 300 miles per hour in an aircraft with jet–like appearance as shown in the rendering to the right. Which some numbers on a comparison between a Pratt-Whitney PW610F and a Skycar 400 http://www.moller.com/skycar

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