^ congrats.


Saw this earlier, which is a physical re-creation of a CG animated music video from 2001:


(The run starts at 1:18)

Adopted another cat eh?

Serious question: range and useful payload?


On the one hand, I understand that this is comparable to asking the same questions about the original Wright Flyer.

On the other hand, Orville & Wilbur weren't competing against established technologies which can transport 850 people (plus cargo) halfway around the world at mach 0.85, with turnaround times of under an hour. They were competing against a horse.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...39f94a0090.png




Edit: God damn, I grew up in a small town. I just realized that you could fit half of the students in my high school into a single A-380 without violating FAA regs.

Well, EDF (electric ducted fan) technology has been around in the RC world for quite a while, and it's not very efficient. For example, an RC plane weighing around 10lbs with a fairly efficient wing and two ducted fans will carry 25-30% of it's gross weight in batteries and have a flight time of 6-8 minutes. And VTOL takes a LOT more energy than a conventional takeoff. Unless they've made some giant breakthrough in battery technology, it'll never be more than a curiosity.

Interesting that no pilot was visible... first flight remotely piloted for safety? Or weight?

They didn't say anything about payload, but range was 300km. (@1:37)

I think the purpose of the lilium is to eventually deliver something that is very easy and cost effective to fly.
It's supposed to be a short range commuter meant for just a few passengers.
Essentially, it's the flying car we've been promised by science fiction for the last 70 years or so.

If things go according to plan over the next year or two, I may find myself shopping for an airplane.

Obviously my budget will be the equivalent of "1.6 NA Miata, but rust-free" if that happens.

My instinct is to go back to N6066R, the 60s vintage Cessna 172 Skyhawk that I learned on, which was destroyed in hurricane Charley. But I counter that against the fact that while my intuitive instinct in motorcycle-shopping is to fall back to the Honda CB250 Nighthawk (which was my first "real" motorcycle, and still my favorite bike of all time), there are better, more efficient motorcycles out there. Like the SV650. (Fuck you, Suzuki, for killing the best (from a technical standpoint) bike I ever owned.)


It only occurs to me now that both contain the word "hawk" in their name. Ever actually met a hawk? It's a total dipshit of a bird which bears little resemblance to either aforementioned mechanical conveyance.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...740a0e893b.png

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...e055164183.png

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...25a3e217c4.png

The real problem with "flying cars" isn't a technology hurdle, but rather bureaucratic & infrastructural ones. Type cert can be obviously be a major financial hurdle, but it really comes down to air traffic management. Air traffic mgmt. has been a bottleneck in aviation since forever. The whole "NextGen" air traffic mgmt. plan to distribute traffic management to the pilots so that traffic mgmt. scales with actual traffic would have to actually be in place & working before masses of idiots could start flying to work every day.

It's kind of like the power grid problem with electric cars: yeah, a small percentage of the population can drive them, but there isn't an infrastructure to support EVERYONE driving one.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...e10b5ce0b4.jpg

Leave it to MT.net to get practical about flying cars.


NSFW: language

The first gasoline powered automobiles were able to do 200mph and get 75 mpg. But the gov't stifled it in the interest of BIG OIL.

You can't just extrapolate from a model at a smaller scale, because of square/cube effects and minimum component sizes. The demo they have supposedly goes a 150 miles and flies for an hour or so.

And yeah, looks like it was remotely piloted. Safety is all the explanation you need, there's no reason to infer weight problems.

To me, it looks like it has the potential to be an incrementally cheaper version of an executive helicopter. It's got the potential to do many of the things a helicopter would do but for somewhat less money and requiring somewhat less maintenance. It's not going to be the "flying car" that everyone wants. Bureaucracy is trying its hardest to make sure that never happens.

--Ian

If power fails, a helicopter will generally be able to land without killing all the occupants.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...6321f09036.jpg

With the stubby wings on that thing, I assume that loss of electrical power will result in uncontrolled descent into terrain, with extreme prejudice.

Also:

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...9fdc27e814.jpg

Congrats! My wife and I's first child is due in late October.

Change it to 'sometimes' and I'll agree. Auto-rotation isn't quite as routine as that.

OTOH, with multiple independent electric ducted fans there are a lot fewer single points of failure on that aircraft than on any helicopter.

--Ian

Dad had a 1948 Stinson 108-3 up until I was in college.

http://imgproc.airliners.net/photos/...2293.jpg?v=v40

Tail number N4219C

The automotive equivalent would be a 1950 Oldsmobile.

https://assets.hemmings.com/story_im...0@2x.jpg?rev=2

After he sold it he built a Kolb Firefly in the garage.

http://www.ultralighthomepage.com/PICS/firefly2.gif

It was the automotive equivalent of a KX-80

http://www.2040-motos.com/_content/c.../72898/001.jpg


They are a tube and fabric aircraft that cruises about 65mph on a 40hp Rotax 2 cyl two stroke. They can be kept as a legal ultralight and the government doesn't need registration or anything more than if you bought a new riding lawn mower.

Here's a nicely done little video. Some video is taken wit the camera beneath the belly but the shots from the pilot's perspective show you just how open it is.



And one of the more practical features was the folding wings. The white canister on top of the wings is a Ballistic Recovery Systems parachute.

Those little birds look like a lot of fun.

This is hysterical!!!

^ I don't understand this stuff... Like, just don't do criminal shit, and everything will be ok.



Ghotta love Rhett & Link.



Poor whale...


https://cdn.dribbble.com/users/11854...ribbble.gif???

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...65a68f0dde.jpg

ND Miata Racing - Mazda Motorsports

click to play

Seen at the supermarket this morning:

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...1eb357bb63.png

36:20 is a crash essentially identical to my crash 2 years ago. Car is still loaded, he touches the dirt with the outside loaded rear tire. Hello wall.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...1&d=1492972213

Great galloping gooseberries! I'd almost forgotten that a stock '04 actually handles reasonably well when it's not wearing show-shoes.


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...083b1a574e.png


Trivia: did you know that you can actually fit two 16x6.5 wheels in the trunk of an NB? Not with tires on them, of course, but it's so nice to be able to carry four wheels & tires without having to remove the passenger seat. Couldn't do that with the NA. And so very glad to have those ugly, heavy, Special Edition wheels off the car.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...43579b41b8.jpg

Speaking of wheels and tires, a local was selling his MSM with stock wheels plus a set of 8" 6UL's and unmounted 225 Rival S. Someone else is getting the car.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...1&d=1492995092

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...1&d=1492995092

For some reason, the Dockmaster's office is located inside a nice hotel:


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...4c0e92566e.png

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...fba7e68ae5.png

Congrats and good luck. My #3 due any moment now.

http://www.dumpaday.com/wp-content/u...ctures-316.jpg

​​​​​​​https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...f9a6c21363.jpg

Apparently, stampeding unicorns are of concern to the financial markets:


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...0f36225681.png

dont do dumb stuff on camera.

When you're shopping on Amazon, there are a lot of different filters you can set. Condition, user rating, availability, etc. Now you can also filter by the "ownership / diversity credentials" of the seller.


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...bbf3b0be36.png


WTF? In all seriousness, in what reality is it OK for Amazon to assist its customers in discriminating against certain sellers on the basis of their ethnicity or gender?

Joe, what virus are you running to get that menu? I don't see it.

Perhaps they feel you are insensitive and changed your layout accordingly.

I'm pretty sure you have to qualify as an Economically Advantaged Minority to see that option on Amazon.

What a huge load of bullshit that is.

It may only show up when you're logged into an Amazon for Business account.

Unrelated:


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...07f62866c6.png
"Some hard drives"



https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...7f1e365986.png
"Lexi." (A portrait of my dead dog which my sister drew for me. Charcoal on parchment.)

Disclaimer: contains non-turbo content.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...256d37a645.gif

:bowrofl: Just caught that.


This is King Felipe VI of Spain:

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...039433c870.png

If he were to emigrate to the US, and open a small business manufacturing and selling pony-themed dildos, then he would quality as a "minority-owned business," and would thus be eligible for preferential treatment by Amazon.


As an aside, I strongly suggest that you not search Google Images for "pony themed dildo."

OK Joe, I won't.

Looks like fun, but I'd need something IFR-capable. Thinking more Honda Civic (daily driver) than Westfield Atom.

No, I do not have my instrument rating yet. And no, I have never operated in anything even remotely resembling IMC.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...5b09a5b990.png


Right now, this is all just random speculation of course. Haven't yet signed on the dotted line, and will in any event rent near town for the first year or two, as is tradition.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...06acfa7475.png


For all I know, I might get the EV itch again. Battery prices have fallen in recent years. An AC motor, a Harley gearbox, maybe a worn-out old Formula Vee chassis. Wonder how long an open diff would survive if exposed to the elements with only heavy grease on the spiders, and a sprocket in place of the ring gear?

Puddles the Sad Clown is a vocal god.

Figure out how to call yourself a female-veteran-native american-owned contracting firm, and you can find yourself with millions you can use to pay white males to do what they would normally be doing for half that price. (the other half goes to you!)

https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/fi...20part%201.pdf

If the government likes set-asides to keep things fair and honest, why should we complain about a private business doing the same? Go Amazon, help the little guy (get taken advantage of by anyone who can figure it out). Sustainable, organic, ethnogenicallydiverse, notwhite, dontassumemygender, drunkenrambling.

Source: white male in Tyson's Corner that worked for a 100% white male that happened to somehow have just enough native-american to qualify for set asides.

So, what's your business plan, why should we loan you money?
I want to start a government contracting firm.
Oh, what are your qualifications?
Well, technically I'm a minority.
Really, white dude?
Yeah, totally, I'm like 1/64th -redacted tribe- or something!
Okay, you and a few others just like you can fight over these millions.
Bitchin'

In case you've ever used the phrase "handles like it's got a 200 lb dick strapped to the trunklid."



Rolling coal:

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...f1e7b37b50.png




Rolling a cigarette:

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...cf89f9f5d9.png




Rolling your eyes:

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...e907ff487e.png




Rolling the hard six:

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...69dd72a78f.png




Rolling a hot Six:

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...cc2b38889b.png



Know the difference.

rolling fur
https://media.giphy.com/media/RsXdnbJ1tnjVK/giphy.gif
_______________

I made a funny:


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...33e5be28a3.png

https://www.miataturbo.net/insert-bs...5/#post1407220


http://image.rakuten.co.jp/ribbonsho...6/zaka-973.jpg

Electric build sexiness.

^ So battery. Much volt...


Saw this guy actually walking around in public wearing this suit:


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...3ca59e6573.png

Spanish moss is neither Spanish nor moss. No need to discuss.

^ Seriously LOLed at the end.


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...233d215d13.png


No, not that LOL. Stupid google images... Wait a sec, is that a flying, weaponized cyber-chicken? WTF!



https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...6b578db437.png

Huh? Why does a hand squeezing a lemon even show up for a search on LOL?



https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/im...25eb99a.gif???

Ok, this is just getting weird. And more chickens?




https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...fcfcf518f1.png

Steampunk anime? Fuck it, I give up.


Imagine an appropriate "LOL" image here.

Childhood memory- being warned not to mess with the stuff or be assaulted by the "chiggers" (red bugs) who make it their home. The moss on the panhandle is thinner and green (at least on the coast). And for those that feel left out- you can buy it in a bag.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...33856316b1.jpg

There is a stop-motion show you need to watch...

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...icken_Logo.png