"Peter Dohm" wrote

EIGHT does seem a bit extreme, and I am no fan of Moller.

But I seem to recall that, back in the early days of the ultralight
movement, someone did build an ultralight using FIVE very small
Briggs&Straton engines--which flew quite well as did his later designs...

With a wing to hold up the craft, losing an engine or two, or even all of
them is not a great problem. The aircraft can be landed with a minimal
amount of energy.

With the engines holding up the craft, when they quit, it is like sawing off
the wing of an airplane. It is going to "land" with a great deal of energy,
and probably kill the pilot. That is why it has only flown on the tether.
--
Jim in NC