How We Will Die In The Future: Homemade Plane-Bikes
Californian engineering firm Samson Motorworks is developing a motorcycle that will transform into a mini two-seater airplane: "The company is building a prototype of its Switchblade Multi Mode Vehicle, or flying motorcycle, and hopes to sell a $60,000 do-it-yourself kit as early as 2011. (Engine and avionics are sold separately, for about $25,000 total)." Excuse me? A DO-IT-YOURSELF-KIT?! To build a motorcycle that will rocket into the air? Like a jetski that flies in the sky, you say. That people will assemble at home. How many people will kill themselves with this? It's like, Well, I'm pretty sure I followed those directions right. That video they included seemed pretty self-explanatory. Let's go! Speaking of video: how about a soundtrack on the one above, Motorworks? I mean, entice me to my death. How sweet would that clip be set to a little Freedom Hawk?
I hope it comes with a complete set of allen wrenches.
You're missing the point. In the future, we will all be BATMAN.
BAH!
When I saw "plane-bikes," I thought, wow, you'll really have to pedal hard, and it just didn't seem so dangerous.
People can't even drive on the damn ground… now we're supposed to just start letting these goddamn things fall out of the sky on school children and puppies and shit, Fuck that Future. Think about how long before someone needs a hydrogen powered sky hummer that can take out a building when it inevitably falls to earth.
Goddamn Wright brothers. Man was not meant to leave the ground!
There is a reason Pilots are highly trained and smart money would want it to stay that way.
When do the Japanese start crashing Airships into it?
that thing looks like the head of one of those spy vs. spy guys.
I'm certain that all aircraft/motorcycle laws apply & that training, licenses, and airports will be required for use. Also, I know a lot of people who have built their own airplanes. It's not uncommon or unsafe.
I'm sure you are right, Fifi. But my immediate reaction upon seeing the Switchblade was, Man, I want to get to one of those! (With all my spare $85,000s lying around.) Then I was like, but I would kill myself. And then I read that I would have to assemble it myself. And I was like, I would kill myself before ever leaving the ground. I would kill myself going 10 miles and hour on something i put together myself. I would maybe kill myself just in trying to assemble it.
My first thought was "I want one", too. Then I realized that laws wouldn't permit me to take off in my driveway, so that was a bummer. That & the pricetag! You can get a nice, little, old Cessna for about 1/4 the price & they come assembled.
yeah, my dad built his own with a volkswagon engine.
Your dad must have gigantic balls.
There used to be a bunch of little VW engine airplanes in the hangar next door. They were all KR-2s and adorable. Aerobatic, too.
in the backyard. with the compensation money he got after a hang-gliding accident that broke his spine and shattered his ankle.
@ fifi, yeah, pretty much like that. but with orange and yellow stripes.
I have a volkswagon. He should be very careful.
How many of these folks That aren't Dean Kamen use their sky craft to commute vs. those that use flight as some type of indulgence?
A real plane is cheaper. This will fail.