Not sure I'd have the guts to fly it, but looks feasible.
Not even particularly light.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7821979.stm

Edit: I suspect the £50k they say includes the development cost. A buggy + prop + monster paraglider wouldn't come to near that IMO.

[Edited on 12/1/09 by iank]

he's feckin crazy!!
not for me

Its a BEP (Bike Engined Plane).... Powered by an R1 motor according to the paper.

that looks real fun, minus the travelling through dangerous areas bit.

50k seems a bit steep though for what it is.

Good to see that quirky british inventions and odd chalenges are still alive and kicking.

Maybe Top Gear should try it out, a race between that with Mr May flying/driving it and Clarkson in his usual high powered sports car from to pof U.K to the bottom. Can you just imagine the humour value of clarson being stuck in traffic as captain slow overtakes him at 100 feet (priceless)

"Once airborne, the driver uses pedals in the zero-carbon vehicle's foot well to steer the Skycar by tugging cables that change the wing's shape."

Can anbody explain at what point this skycar becomes zero-carbon?

thb the spec sounds utter made up nonsense

as does most of the article

"thb the spec sounds utter made up nonsense "
I've read about this in the flying mags, I think you'll find it is quite legit. Apparently it taxi's to 35mph at which point it will take off, they say it has a top speed of 80mph, but I would imagine the economy at that speed would be horrendous - that chute must produce massive drag.
It is basically a Rage buggy which are r1 powered, with a paramotor attached to the back end to inflate the canopy & push it forward. Once airborne it's steered with a couple of pedals which change the shape of the chute. I would think landing could be quite interesting - I don't think it would behave well in a crosswind!!!

Bike engines are the future

Phil

I suspect Paul Moller might have something to say about the "Skycar" name!

That looks like something from a recent Bond film?

ATB

Simon

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mr Whippy
thb the spec sounds utter made up nonsense

as does most of the article

---