Flying+Cars

There are many people trying to build a perfect flying car. Here are some examples of types of flying cars being built.

In 1962, Dr. Moller built a model of the XM-2. Then, in 1964 he began building the model. He used a two 2-cycle McCulloch drone engine which had enough power to allow the XM-2 to hover in ground effect in 1965. With the success of his first VTOL flight, Dr. Moller began to re-engine the XM-2 in 1966 with two Mercury outboard engines.

The construction of the XM-3 started in 1966. It was a two passenger veichle. It had a single ring fan powered by 8 go-kart engines surrounded the passengers to create the lift required for vertical flight. In 1968, Dr. Moller flew the XM-3 in ground effect. This configuration was patented in 1969.

The XM-4 Skycar Similar to the XM-3, the XM-4 was also a small two-passenger saucer-shaped aircraft. Dr. Molller was encouraged by his earlier success of the XM-2 and XM-3 model. Construction of the XM-4 began in 1970. The XM-4 featured eight Fichtel-Sachs rotary engines which surrounded the passengers in a circular pattern and debuted in 1974.

The M150 Skycar The Moller M150 Skycar was designed for single person VTOL. The picture show a prototype of the M150 that was displayed at a motorshow in Essen, Germany. M150 SKYCAR SPECIFICATIONS || **S.I.**  ||  **U.S.**  ||  **AVIATION**  || || 1  ||  1  ||  1  || ||  604 km/hr  ||  375 mph  ||  326 knots  || || 539 km/hr  ||  335 mph  ||  291 knots  || || 386 kg  ||  850 lbs  ||  850 lbs  || || 254 kg  ||  560 lbs  ||  560 lbs  || (Gasoline/Alcohol) || 19 km/l 13 km/l ||  45 mpg 30 mpg ||  39 Nmi/gal 26 Nmi/gal || (Gasoline/Alcohol) || 1,086 km    725 km  ||  675 mi    450 mi  ||  587 Nmi 391 Nmi || || 0 m  ||  0 ft  ||  (VTOL)  || || 0 m  ||  0 ft  ||  (VTOL)  || (LxWxH) || 3.7m, 2.4m, 1.5m  ||  12'x 8'x 5'  ||  12'x 8'x 5'  || Moller International has developed, integrated and demonstrated all the disparate technologies required for small, powered-lift VTOL aircraft and received enough feedback to become confident that these vehicles have enormous commercial and military market potential. Over 200 manned and unmanned flight demonstrations of its 2-passenger VTOL volantor (designated the M200X) have occurred since 1989!
 * **Passengers**
 * **Maximum Speed**
 * **Cruise Speed**
 * **Gross Weight**
 * **Empty Weight**
 * **Max. Mileage**
 * **Range**
 * **Take-Off Distance**
 * **Landing Distance**
 * **Dimensions**

The production configuration of the M400 Skycar has gone through a few permutations as many hours of wind tunnel testing showed ways to improve the aircraft's performance. One of the long-term goals has been to find a way to operate the Skycar in hover in the same configuration as when operating on the ground. This would allow it to land and hover in a much smaller area, for example on the median strip of a highway as might be done during a roadside emergency medical mission. The present M400X came close to achieving this but because the wing/tail is so far back the lift/drag ratio is only 7.5 and the dead-stick gliding speed is high, making an un-powered landing very difficult. We have now found a way to move the wing forward and add sweep so that together with tail extensions on the wing, we achieve a lift/drag ratio of 12.5. In addition to being able to hover with the wings folded, the under carriage wheels are farther apart for increased ground stability. This new configuration has less airflow interference between front and rear nacelles, better visibility from the cockpit for improved ground and air operations, and dead-stick gliding speed that is substantially lower.


 * Passengers: || 4  ||
 * Top speed @ 13,200 ft: || 375 mph  ||
 * Cruise speed @ 20,000 ft: || 275 mph  ||
 * Maximum rate of climb: || 6,000 fpm  ||
 * Maximum range: || 750 miles  ||
 * Payload excluding fuel: || 750 lbs  ||
 * Operational ceiling: || 36,000 ft  ||
 * Gross weight: || 2,400 lbs  ||
 * Engine power (2 min. rating): || 1,200 hp  ||
 * Fuel consumption: || approx. 20 mpg  ||
 * Fuel: || Ethanol  ||
 * Dimensions (LxWxH): || 19.5' x 8.5' x 7.5'  ||
 * Takeoff and landing area: || 35 ft dia  ||
 * Noise level at 500 ft (Goal): || 65 dba  ||
 * Vertical takeoff and landing: || yes  ||
 * Emergency parachutes: || yes  ||

Another kind of flying vehichle is the X-Hawk. Yoeli of Israel claims that his X-Hawk flying vehicle will be ready by 2010!

Yoeli's own company, says that the X-Hawk will initially be implemented, "As a workhorse vehicle that could be used by firefighters, rescue teams, and the military to aid in the recovery of people stranded in hard to reach places."

You see, the X-Hawk flying car has the same level of maneuverability as a helicopter, except the "ducted fan design" has no exposed blades. Taking off and landing is done vertically, whereas horizontal movement can approach speeds as high as 155mph. The exact range of these vehicles has not yet been determined, but they say that it can remain in the air for about two hours.

An unmanned "Mule version" is expected to hit the air in 2009, whereas larger renditions -- including one designed to [|house] 10 passengers -- are being planned for the near future. Flying won't come cheap, of course, with the estimated price sitting between $1.5 and $3.5 million, "and Yoeli admits those estimates might be low." (I guess we'll have to wait for the Yaris or Fit edition)



Sources: http://www.moller.com/ http://www.mobilemag.com/content/100/354/C11574/