The Air Scooter. (1 Viewer)

[Trajan Octavian Titus]

By eliminating the need and complexity of swashplates, collective and cyclic control through a coaxial rotor design a number of benefits beyond conventional helicopter designs are immediately realized. First; enhanced, intuitive flight controls are achieved by simple motorcycle-style handlebars and the absence of a tail rotor. To gain altitude, simply throttle up like you would on a motorcycle, turn left or right on the handlebars for craft rotation and move the handlebar assembly as a joystick for directional control (including reverse). No pedal controls are necessary, which means someone without the use of their legs can just as easily fly the AirScooter. Handlebar controls represent the most distinguishable feature of the AirScooter. AirScooter's patented design also provides an amazing level of stability while in the air and during flight.

The price tag for this incredible machine is yet to be determined, but current pricing estimates by AirScooter Corporation are under $50,000. Impressive, especially when compared to the price of most land-bound vehicles or small helicopters. Even more impressive when considering the substantial savings from having an aircraft engine that operates on gasoline instead of expensive aircraft fuel and the fact that just the licensing required to operate a conventional personal helicopter could cost about $50,000 alone!

http://www.airscooter.com/pages/airscooter_main.htm

I want one but the one thing I don't like about it is it doesn't auto-rotate like other helicopters and since it has only a single power plant if your engine fails it will fall out of the sky like a stone, however, they said that they're testing an emergency parachute deployment.

 

[Scarecrow Akhbar]

Oh, crap, the gadget flies under the knee of the H-D diagram and that's the most dangerous flight regime of any rotorcraft.

I can't tell from looking at those pictures, does the thing have two teetering rotors that go in opposite directions, thus eliminating the need for any counter-torque mechanism, or is the counter-torque being provided by side-lift from those paddles in the back?

(edit: found'em. Yep, standard contra-rotating design)

And yeah, it's possible to steer a small helicopter by shifting the CG in relation to the rotor tip path plane, as opposed to tilting the TPP in relation to the CG as they do in conventional helicopters, so they probably can get away without the swashplate and pitch-link assemblies.

Questions to ask:

What are the fatigue limited components and how many flight hours are they good for? How much does it cost to replace them? How much fatique testing have they performed as part of the type-certification process?

How frequent are the scheduled overhauls, and how much?

What routine maintenance is required, how much of that requires an A&P mechanic, and how much can be done by the unlicensed owner?

What safety features are included in the design to minimize injury/assure survival of inadvertent contact wth terrain?

Is a rotor-wing pilot's license required to operate this vehicle?

 

[Trajan Octavian Titus]

Oh, crap, the gadget flies under the knee of the H-D diagram and that's the most dangerous flight regime of any rotorcraft.

I can't tell from looking at those pictures, does the thing have two teetering rotors that go in opposite directions, thus eliminating the need for any counter-torque mechanism, or is the counter-torque being provided by side-lift from those paddles in the back?

And yeah, it's possible to steer a small helicopter by shifting the CG in relation to the rotor tip path plane, as opposed to tilting the TPP in relation to the CG as they do in conventional helicopters, so they probably can get away without the swashplate and pitch-link assemblies.

Questions to ask:

What are the fatigue limited components and how many flight hours are they good for? How much does it cost to replace them? How much fatique testing have they performed as part of the type-certification process?

Couldn't tell you but I think they have detailed information on the engine in the link.

How frequent are the scheduled overhauls, and how much?

Apparently less then other rotary aircraft because it uses a standard gas powered 4 cylinder engine.

What routine maintenance is required, how much of that requires an A&P mechanic, and how much can be done by the unlicensed owner?

Not sure. Maybe it's in the link.

What safety features are included in the design to minimize injury/assure survival of inadvertent contact wth terrain?

Well it doesn't have auto-rotation because it doesn't fly high enough for it to help in case of engine failure, which sucks but they said they are testing a emergency parachute deployment.

Is a rotor-wing pilot's license required to operate this vehicle?

No it's classified as an ultra-light.

 

[Scarecrow Akhbar]

Well it doesn't have auto-rotation because it doesn't fly high enough for it to help in case of engine failure, which sucks but they said they are testing a emergency parachute deployment.

I was thinking along the lines of crushable seats, strain energy absorbent landing gear, aerodynamic designs to prevent tumbling and landing upside down, that kind of thing.

I wouldn't want to do a pogo on the rotor mast and find the rotor coming in to slash my legs off in an accident.

Oh, and parachutes need to be deployed far enough from the ground to take effect, too. Don't ask me how much.

 

[Trajan Octavian Titus]

I was thinking along the lines of crushable seats, strain energy absorbent landing gear, aerodynamic designs to prevent tumbling and landing upside down, that kind of thing.

I wouldn't want to do a pogo on the rotor mast and find the rotor coming in to slash my legs off in an accident.

Oh, and parachutes need to be deployed far enough from the ground to take effect, too. Don't ask me how much.

Ya that I don't know but it is the one thing I don't like about not being able to auto-rotate ie there being only one power plant if it fails you're gonna fall out of the sky like a rock.

 

[Scarecrow Akhbar]

Ya that I don't know but it is the one thing I don't like about not being able to auto-rotate ie there being only one power plant if it fails you're gonna fall out of the sky like a rock.

Just imagine you're in The Road Warrior playing the part of the gyro-captian when he gets shot down in the final chase scene.