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**Cotemar** · 05-05-2017, 05:16

Is this your next dinghy !!!!!!!

The Kitty Hawk Flyer.

https://kittyhawk.aero/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMWh4W1C2PM

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30West · 05-05-2017, 06:02

Oh my that looks annoying and dangerous, it should sell well.

GILow · 05-05-2017, 06:29

Let's see that again in a 15 knot cross wind. They'd be spread all over the trees.

30West · 05-05-2017, 06:50

It isn't flying in ground effect, so how high can it go? And what happens if a bird flies into a prop? Falling from a few stories high can do some damage, especially if you land on or under that machine.

I'm very much expecting hobbyists to start buzzing around on things like this, risking death. Didn't think anyone would build them commercially for a while.

**a64pilot** · 05-05-2017, 08:05

Sure why not?
I bet it will handle crosswinds very well as it has to be gyro stabilized, and has not much surface area.
It is out of ground effect, ground effect is virtually zero at more than a rotor or one wing span, it might be able to climb quite high, and I'm sure it can't autorotate.
It ought to be able to fly with a few inop motors, others of its type can
Yes, I bet it is annoying, has to sound like a monstrous swarm of bees, maybe no louder than a jet ski, and likely a lot less time aloft, so it's not going to make noise for long, unlike the jet skis.

I'd love one, will you buy me one

Opie91 · 05-05-2017, 08:22

Not going to work well as a dingy unless you like sailing in the Great Lakes. From their website FAQs:

Where can I fly the vehicle? The Flyer may be flown in uncongested areas in the US and is designed to be flown over fresh water.
Can I operate the Flyer on land? No. The Flyer is designed to be flown over fresh water.
Can I operate the Flyer in a city? No. The Flyer may be flown in uncongested areas of the US and is designed to be flown over fresh water.
Is a pilot’s license required to operate the Flyer? You do not need a pilot’s license to operate the Flyer in the US.

Also did you see the woman in the video, 90 lbs soaking wet. The payload is going to be pretty light, they don't even list one or any other specs on their website.

barnakiel · 05-05-2017, 09:53

Ha! It is not. But it is very cool anyways!

And very noisy as well!

b.

Jdege · 05-05-2017, 10:00

The biggest question is how long do the batteries last.

30West · 05-05-2017, 10:51

The very common Phantom goes 35mph. This much larger octo should be much faster, probably handle winds pretty well. Agree it has to be gyro stabilized, no way around that. Yeah I want one, but I would not leave my kid alone with it. If I were a kid with that, I'd be headed over rooftops and into all manner of trouble. Battery should be upscaled as well.

admiralslater · 05-05-2017, 12:01

what astounds me is the rapid increase in the power to weight ratio in batteries and electric motors that makes this thing possible . 20 years ago no battery could lift it self of the ground ,now it lifts it self plus a person.
The next step will be silencing the props . Even drones can be heard from greater distances than you would expect .

senormechanico · 05-05-2017, 13:12

I sure hope anchorages will not be infested with the sounds of Giant Weedwackers.

Tayana42 · 05-05-2017, 16:32

I think they are an exciting development and I look forward to improvements that will make them practical transportation. In the mean time they are probably not as noisy as these flying inflatable microlights... http://c8.alamy.com/comp/B623MX/moto...ith-B623MX.jpg