Flying car based on Ferrari 'could be reality within two years' .
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Flying car based on Ferrari 'could be reality within two years' .
by Digger on Sun Nov 02, 2008 4:02 pm
A flying car based on a Ferrari could be ferrying wealthy commuters to work within two years, designers have predicted..
The 'Autovolantor' - based on a £200,000 Ferrari 599 GTB - is being developed
by "Moller International".
It will have the ability to take off vertically and hover thanks to eight
powerful thrusters which direct air down for take off. Vents then tilt so
the car can fly forward.
The car is expected to be able to do 100mph on the ground and 150mph in the
air.
The calculated airborne range is 75 miles and ground range is 150 miles.
Designer Bruce Calkins says the car features a specially designed hybrid fuel
and electric system to power the thrusters, creating as much as 800 horse
power.
He believes it will be able to fly at altitudes of up to 5,000ft.
Mr Calkins said: "The Autovolantor is powered by eight fans mounted in
the fuselage of the vehicle.
"On the ground these fans push the vehicle around with a firm but
not-too-powerful thrust of deflected air.
"Small vanes in the exit area of the ducts can direct the air forward or
back, or remain in the neutral position for vertical take off and landing.
"Once in the air the vehicle manoeuvres like a helicopter, tilting nose
down to move forward, rolling right or left for changes in direction.
"While maximum altitude could be much higher, the energy to obtain
altitudes above 5,000 feet would be significant so we expect it to stay
below that height."
Moller chose the Ferrari to be the model for the ground-breaking machine
because of its distinctive shape.
Mr Calkins, Moller's general manager, added: "The Ferrari 599 GTB has the
general shape and layout we were looking for.
"Using it allowed us to quickly modify a readily available scale model
and run some wind tunnel tests to establish the technical feasibility of the
project.
"At first we were very sceptical that we could adapt a ground-vehicle
with our technologies and make it work.
"But the model allowed us to quickly verify that it could in fact be
done."
Mr Calkins said he hopes the vehicle's ability to "quick hop' out of
traffic' could mean they attract the backing to fund the project.
He estimates a cost of around £500,000 per car.
A little expensive but an ideal way to beat the congestion
.
The 'Autovolantor' - based on a £200,000 Ferrari 599 GTB - is being developed
by "Moller International".
It will have the ability to take off vertically and hover thanks to eight
powerful thrusters which direct air down for take off. Vents then tilt so
the car can fly forward.
The car is expected to be able to do 100mph on the ground and 150mph in the
air.
The calculated airborne range is 75 miles and ground range is 150 miles.
Designer Bruce Calkins says the car features a specially designed hybrid fuel
and electric system to power the thrusters, creating as much as 800 horse
power.
He believes it will be able to fly at altitudes of up to 5,000ft.
Mr Calkins said: "The Autovolantor is powered by eight fans mounted in
the fuselage of the vehicle.
"On the ground these fans push the vehicle around with a firm but
not-too-powerful thrust of deflected air.
"Small vanes in the exit area of the ducts can direct the air forward or
back, or remain in the neutral position for vertical take off and landing.
"Once in the air the vehicle manoeuvres like a helicopter, tilting nose
down to move forward, rolling right or left for changes in direction.
"While maximum altitude could be much higher, the energy to obtain
altitudes above 5,000 feet would be significant so we expect it to stay
below that height."
Moller chose the Ferrari to be the model for the ground-breaking machine
because of its distinctive shape.
Mr Calkins, Moller's general manager, added: "The Ferrari 599 GTB has the
general shape and layout we were looking for.
"Using it allowed us to quickly modify a readily available scale model
and run some wind tunnel tests to establish the technical feasibility of the
project.
"At first we were very sceptical that we could adapt a ground-vehicle
with our technologies and make it work.
"But the model allowed us to quickly verify that it could in fact be
done."
Mr Calkins said he hopes the vehicle's ability to "quick hop' out of
traffic' could mean they attract the backing to fund the project.
He estimates a cost of around £500,000 per car.
A little expensive but an ideal way to beat the congestion
."The best way to predict the future is to invent it".
