Prototype Hoverwing

[Remington]

Now, I'm normally not an envious guy. I want what I need, and what I need isn't much. Decent food, a place to lay my head, everything else is pretty much optional.

Normally, I would say I want this. But no, I need this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ih_KBru6Co&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJew-zCGSKQ&feature=player_embedded#
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/04/flying-hovercraft-rudy-he_n_484766.html

A New Zealand inventor and hovercraft aficionado has used parts from his barbecue, his daughter's scooter, and his wife's car to create a hovercraft that can fly.

The craft--a standard hovercraft fitted with detachable wings--can fly at up to 96 kmh and at a height of around 1.5 meters.

Rudy Heeman, who created the 'hoverwing,' has been building hovercraft in his spare time for over a decade and says he spent over 800 hours and tens of thousands of dollars creating his flying gizmo.

http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Flying-hovercraft-Zealand-Heeman-Subaru,news-6013.html

While hovercrafts aren't anything new, a New Zealand man has taken the concept to a "higher level" by designing a hovercraft that can actually fly. As if yanked straight out of the future, the craft is capable of traveling not over land and water, but can soar over rough terrain of up to 10 feet in the air.

AutoMotto reports that it took designer Rudy Heeman almost ten years to create the vehicle. Constructed in the garage, Heeman used various parts from other vehicles such as junked cars, scooters, and even BBQs to produce the craft in its present form.

Under the "hood," the hovercraft packs a 1.8 liter Subaru engine which has the potential to crank out a maximum of 140 MPH. The machine works as a boat without its wings and tail, however with the appendages attached, the craft will actually take flight once it speeds beyond 43 MPH. The craft can also carry two people, or 352 pounds, whichever is greater.

Basically this guy took a normal hovercraft, souped it up, and added wings. It travels over both air and water, and when the speed hits 70 kmph, it takes off. An aviation licence is not needed to operate it, and he's planning to start marketing them for ~$13,000.

DO WANT.

[Jasper]

Oh goodness.  I do believe I'm getting vapours.

[East Coast Hustle]

I came.

[Dimocritus]

Yes, please.

EDIT: If he could make the wings retractable, this would be ultimate unfuckwithable win.

[Elder Iptuous]

I'd be interested to see failure upon dipping the wingtips in the water....
i imagine he's done that at least once, no?

[Doktor Howl]

Why is he not using this for evil?

[Jasper]

I find that people who dig flying get so caught up in the act that they forget that they're supposed to be dropping cow shit on people.

[Elder Iptuous]

Why is he not using this for evil?

Because you haven't ponied up the 13 grand....

[Rumckle]

Why is he not using this for evil?

Because you haven't ponied up the 13 grand....

This.

I'm sure he's going to use the money from selling to make lasers to attach to them.

[Reginald Ret]

I think i could make a killing laser for under 300 dollars.
Granted, it will just be many weak lasers focussed on one point, but it should work.
I wonder how teh cops would react if they started to find big smoking holes in random objects all over town but no trace of explosives.

[Doktor Howl]

I think i could make a killing laser for under 300 dollars.
Granted, it will just be many weak lasers focussed on one point, but it should work.
I wonder how teh cops would react if they started to find big smoking holes in random objects all over town but no trace of explosives.

DM AFB sits in the middle of Tucson.  We'd get shot down.

[Elder Iptuous]

i wonder if this thing can get actual altitude, or if it relies on ground effect.
it doesn't seem to go over 10-15 ft up in the youtubes....

[Remington]

i wonder if this thing can get actual altitude, or if it relies on ground effect.
it doesn't seem to go over 10-15 ft up in the youtubes....

Ground effect. Max altitude is about ~60 feet.

[Requia ☣]

i wonder if this thing can get actual altitude, or if it relies on ground effect.
it doesn't seem to go over 10-15 ft up in the youtubes....

Ground effect. Max altitude is about ~60 feet.

Ground effect is limited to half the wingspan.  this thing isn't getting 60 feet off the ground without a much bigger set of wings if that's its limit.

Interestingly, it looks like there are a lot of devices like this, but this is the first one that can take off and land without water.

I fucking want it.  I wonder what its max climbing angle is...

[Remington]

i wonder if this thing can get actual altitude, or if it relies on ground effect.
it doesn't seem to go over 10-15 ft up in the youtubes....

Ground effect. Max altitude is about ~60 feet.

Ground effect is limited to half the wingspan.  this thing isn't getting 60 feet off the ground without a much bigger set of wings if that's its limit.

Interestingly, it looks like there are a lot of devices like this, but this is the first one that can take off and land without water.

I fucking want it.  I wonder what its max climbing angle is...

Doh, my bad. Max altitude is ~10 feet, max aerial speed is ~60mph.