FWIW, Moller Again ?

On Fri, 06 Jul 2007 15:47:48 -0400, Ernest Christley
wrote:

Bill Daniels wrote:
Way back, I got a chance to play with some prototype "ATV - like" consumer
ground effect machines. They looked like a cross between a Vespa motor
scooter and an ice rink resurfacing machine. We unloaded them in a big,
empty parking lot and fired them up.

The first thing you learn about ground effect machines is that they stir up
a LOT of dust - even where you didn't expect there would be any dust.

The second thing is that they will almost uncontrollably slide downhill. In
this case, until they got to the storm drain gratings in the corner of the
parking lot where they grounded themselves - there's no ground effect above
a grating. We then faced the problem of an 800 pound machine with no wheels
firmly stuck on a storm drain grate. Fortunately, the truck that delivered
them had a wrecker crane - possibly due to the developers previous
experiences with storm drain grates.

We decided that dry land was possibly not their native environment so we
tried them over water since water is 'mostly' level.

The first thing you learn about ground effect machines over water is that
they kick up a LOT of spray - enough to thoroughly soak the driver. You
need goggles to keep the spray out of your eyes but spray covered goggles
are hard to see through.

The second thing you eventually discover is that when the engine quits over
water the thing sinks FAST. Fortunately, the developer had a water recovery
skiff with a crane and plenty of drying out stuff - possibly due to previous
experiences with over water engine failures.

Maybe this is why you don't see a lot of consumer ground effect ATV's.

Bill Daniels

Bill, that was hilarious. Thank you.

I can see I-40 now during rush hour. On of the Aircars runs over a
drainage grate and goes crashing to the ground. Then there is a 300
aircar pile-up, because short of tossing an anchor over the side, I see
nothing on the thing to make an emergency stop with.

They wouldn't be allowed on the roads in most states except possibly
for some of the more open, western states. Here in Michigan off road
vehicles are expected to *stay* of road and require a DNR permit. If
used over water they need a permit for that.

Can you imagine crossing a field and setting down in a bunch of brush?
Worse yet, how about a bunch of blackberry bushes or a bunch of small
thorn trees. Thorn trees, those are the ones with the three inch long
thorns :-)) Then again this thing probably isn't quite as sturdy as
a "brush hog"

"Bill Daniels" bildan@comcast-dot-net wrote in message
...
Way back, I got a chance to play with some prototype "ATV - like" consumer
ground effect machines. They looked like a cross between a Vespa motor
scooter and an ice rink resurfacing machine. We unloaded them in a big,
empty parking lot and fired them up.

The first thing you learn about ground effect machines is that they stir
up a LOT of dust - even where you didn't expect there would be any dust.

The second thing is that they will almost uncontrollably slide downhill.
In this case, until they got to the storm drain gratings in the corner of
the parking lot where they grounded themselves - there's no ground effect
above a grating. We then faced the problem of an 800 pound machine with no
wheels firmly stuck on a storm drain grate. Fortunately, the truck that
delivered them had a wrecker crane - possibly due to the developers
previous experiences with storm drain grates.

We decided that dry land was possibly not their native environment so we
tried them over water since water is 'mostly' level.

The first thing you learn about ground effect machines over water is that
they kick up a LOT of spray - enough to thoroughly soak the driver. You
need goggles to keep the spray out of your eyes but spray covered goggles
are hard to see through.

The second thing you eventually discover is that when the engine quits
over water the thing sinks FAST. Fortunately, the developer had a water
recovery skiff with a crane and plenty of drying out stuff - possibly due
to previous experiences with over water engine failures.

Maybe this is why you don't see a lot of consumer ground effect ATV's.

Bill Daniels


wrote in message
...
In rec.aviation.piloting Al G wrote:


GROUND-EFFECT VEHICLE PRODUCTION LAUNCHED
Moller International has completed tooling for its M200G volantor, a
small,
"Jetson-like" two-passenger vehicle designed to take-off and land
vertically. The M200G is saucer-shaped, about the size of a small
automobile, and is intended for operation continuously about 10 feet
above
ground level. "It's the ultimate off-road vehicle, able to travel over
any
surface," claimed Dr. Paul Moller, CEO. He further claimed the M200G
could
speed up to 50 mph over a variety of terrain because the electronics
keep
the craft stabilized at no more than 10 feet altitude, where extra lift
is
obtained from operating near the ground. For more information, visit
www.Moller.com.

I'll bet it's a real thrill going over hills, especially on the downhill
side.

--
Jim Pennino

Remove .spam.sux to reply.



Thanks Bill, that made my day.

Al G

"Bill Daniels" bildan@comcast-dot-net wrote in message
...
Way back, I got a chance to play with some prototype "ATV - like" consumer
ground effect machines. They looked like a cross between a Vespa motor
scooter and an ice rink resurfacing machine. We unloaded them in a big,
empty parking lot and fired them up.

The first thing you learn about ground effect machines is that they stir
up
a LOT of dust - even where you didn't expect there would be any dust.

The second thing is that they will almost uncontrollably slide downhill.
In
this case, until they got to the storm drain gratings in the corner of
the
parking lot where they grounded themselves - there's no ground effect
above
a grating. We then faced the problem of an 800 pound machine with no
wheels
firmly stuck on a storm drain grate. Fortunately, the truck that
delivered
them had a wrecker crane - possibly due to the developers previous
experiences with storm drain grates.

We decided that dry land was possibly not their native environment so we
tried them over water since water is 'mostly' level.

The first thing you learn about ground effect machines over water is that
they kick up a LOT of spray - enough to thoroughly soak the driver. You
need goggles to keep the spray out of your eyes but spray covered goggles
are hard to see through.

The second thing you eventually discover is that when the engine quits
over
water the thing sinks FAST. Fortunately, the developer had a water
recovery
skiff with a crane and plenty of drying out stuff - possibly due to
previous
experiences with over water engine failures.

Maybe this is why you don't see a lot of consumer ground effect ATV's.

Bill Daniels

That was great. I was read for a couple of really good laughs.

Peter

Peter Dohm wrote:


That was great. I was read for a couple of really good laughs.

What we really need is a Moller-Bede joint enterprise.

In a previous article, Ron Natalie said:
That was great. I was read for a couple of really good laughs.

What we really need is a Moller-Bede joint enterprise.

Financed by Zoom Campbell.


--
Paul Tomblin http://blog.xcski.com/
I didn't need to sabotage anything. Not being around to say "No that
won't work" or "you can't do it that way" is more than enough damage.
(Ego problem? It's not a problem.) -- Graham Reed, on job endings

"Ron Natalie" wrote in message
m...
Peter Dohm wrote:


That was great. I was read for a couple of really good laughs.

What we really need is a Moller-Bede joint enterprise.

Or Moller-Rutan.

If Rutan can put a man on the Moon, why can't he...

where extra lift is
obtained from operating near the ground. For more information, visit
www.Moller.com.


How are they going to solve the problem of having all those cranes
that his vehicles have to be tethered to? Even his Ground Effect vehicle
is tethered in the video.

Jerry Springer wrote:


where extra lift is
obtained from operating near the ground. For more information, visit
www.Moller.com.


How are they going to solve the problem of having all those cranes
that his vehicles have to be tethered to? Even his Ground Effect vehicle
is tethered in the video.

He'll sell the cranes for a slight additional cost?

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

Jerry Springer wrote:
where extra lift is
obtained from operating near the ground. For more information,
visit www.Moller.com.


How are they going to solve the problem of having all those cranes
that his vehicles have to be tethered to? Even his Ground Effect
vehicle is tethered in the video.

Moller has not built an aircraft yet. BUT he has made some real cool looking
Gondolas.

I've known for a long time that the Skycar was a scam but I got bored
yesterday and I decided to look over his website. It's amazing he
hasn't been busted for fraud. I first heard about this thing in 95 and
12 years later he has no new news on making it fly. The videos make it
look like he has a working prototype. The feds should bust him for
selling stock for something that will never work.

I think he should stop trying to make it take of vertically and prove it
can fly conventionally but that's looks to be a scam too. It doesn't
look like it has enough wing surface to fly. I think it's best role
would be to sell it as a movie prop...

Tony