YC's latest moonshot bet is a startup building a $380K “flying motorcycle” • Hacker News Board

Re: YC's latest moonshot bet is a startup building a $380K “flying motorcycle”

#51

Post by dmayman » Fri, Mar 08, 2019, 4:54 AM UTC

npunt wrote: post #42

These don't look safe, even assuming perfect mechanical reliability, because humans will be piloting them over major population centers. Humans are generally dumb and inattentive, and this particular vehicle looks like it would attract especially dumb humans who'd use them to try dumb things. Since they won't need any piloting certification, this is basically offloading risk onto everyone on the streets below. I'd fe…

Just as for $1500 drones we will have a fly by wire system that precludes controlled flight into terrain or other obstacles.

Re: YC's latest moonshot bet is a startup building a $380K “flying motorcycle”

#52

Post by dmayman » Fri, Mar 08, 2019, 4:56 AM UTC

kondro wrote: post #20

salimmadjd wrote: post #14

I love so many things about this, yet at the same time I don't get the positioning of this product. 1 - Is this is a product for consumers who buy $300-500K super sports cars? 2 - Is this targeted to the consumers who buy private planes? 3 - Is this for search and rescue market? Group 1 - I don't know. Why not buy a drone-based technology that runs on batteries that might be cheaper and perhaps more reliable. Yes, it…

The specs say it only has a 10 - 22 minute flight-time anyway. This is for joyriding only.

30-40 mile range is perfect for what our customers have asked for.

Re: YC's latest moonshot bet is a startup building a $380K “flying motorcycle”

#53

Post by areoform » Fri, Mar 08, 2019, 4:56 AM UTC

I suspect that what they're offering is not only feasible but achievable with modern technology. The glut of cheap sensors and research into dynamic, multi-axis control thanks to drones makes it easier for something like this to come into being. However, I am skeptical about their ability to build something that can fly for a long distance due to the low energy density of current technology. Even with a gas powered turbine system, their efficiency is capped at around 30%? Theoretically, heat recovery can boost that to 85%, but that equipment is heavy and it's complicated to mount https://www.wbdg.org/resources/microturbines . I don't know the answer to this question but I do hope that they find out!

Good luck guys! You're solving some really Hard problems here.

Re: YC's latest moonshot bet is a startup building a $380K “flying motorcycle”

#54

Post by dmayman » Fri, Mar 08, 2019, 4:57 AM UTC

protomyth wrote: post #39

Boeing is going in with an air taxi https://www.flyingmag.com/boeing-air-taxi-prototype-test-fli... They are already talking about cargo is more likely than passengers. Ever the same story in transportation.

We have a cargo version that will carry up to 450-600lbs and faster than any existing helicopter and way way faster than any e-VTOL

Re: YC's latest moonshot bet is a startup building a $380K “flying motorcycle”

#55

Post by j0ba » Fri, Mar 08, 2019, 4:58 AM UTC

fitzroy wrote: post #47

salimmadjd wrote: post #14

I love so many things about this, yet at the same time I don't get the positioning of this product. 1 - Is this is a product for consumers who buy $300-500K super sports cars? 2 - Is this targeted to the consumers who buy private planes? 3 - Is this for search and rescue market? Group 1 - I don't know. Why not buy a drone-based technology that runs on batteries that might be cheaper and perhaps more reliable. Yes, it…

4 - Quidditch

5 - Stormtroopers on endor

Re: YC's latest moonshot bet is a startup building a $380K “flying motorcycle”

#56

Post by repiret » Fri, Mar 08, 2019, 4:58 AM UTC

dmayman wrote: post #36

dwighttk wrote: post #29

They are requiring drone pilots to be licensed and these guys think an ultralight version of this won’t require a license.

Yes no licence needed to fly our ultralight version JB10 and JB11 Jetpacks. Same rules apply to ultralight version of the Speeder.

How do the jetpacks comply with 14 CFR 103.1(e)(4) which requires powered ultralights to have "a power-off stall speed which does not exceed 24 knots calibrated airspeed"?

Re: YC's latest moonshot bet is a startup building a $380K “flying motorcycle”

#57

Post by eevilspock » Fri, Mar 08, 2019, 5:02 AM UTC

With our environment going to hell, we don't need this.

So much for the argument that capitalism entrusts wealth in the hands of a few for the benefit of all, or that wealth correlates to merit in any meaningful sense.

Re: YC's latest moonshot bet is a startup building a $380K “flying motorcycle”

#58

Post by dmayman » Fri, Mar 08, 2019, 5:03 AM UTC

chrisweekly wrote: post #5

ryeon wrote: post #2

they could use a bit of tesla's marketing and website pizzazz

No kidding. The yt video's production values are... unimpressive. https://youtu.be/URgznwTph6M

We’d rather put our scarce resources into building aircraft.

Re: YC's latest moonshot bet is a startup building a $380K “flying motorcycle”

#59

Post by npunt » Fri, Mar 08, 2019, 5:03 AM UTC

nrb wrote: post #33

rmason wrote: post #23

They promised my generation flying cars growing up. They never, not a single time talked about flying motorcycles. I don't mean to be negative but here's a few questions: What happens when you hit turbulence? What happens if you get caught in a rainstorm? What happens if you fly into a flock of birds? What happens when you fly into lightning on a clear day? None of those have to be fatal in an airplane, but potential…

To your point, all of those can be fatal for existing light aircraft.

True. To build on OPs point though, these aren't exactly comparable. Specifically, light aircraft:

* are piloted by people who have to be certified pilots, which takes considerable training

* are flown at higher altitudes than what this product's marketing is suggesting

* are much more expensive to own/operate

* are only allowed to take off from specific places (regional airports) that tend to be away from high population density areas

* can use the lift from wings to potentially glide to safety if engine failures occur

This concept looks like it works best for short hops between high population density areas, and is at a price point and training level (read: none) that would mean many more potential vehicles would be in the air. So it's not only the above issues but also a matter of degree.

Re: YC's latest moonshot bet is a startup building a $380K “flying motorcycle”

#60

Post by dmayman » Fri, Mar 08, 2019, 5:05 AM UTC

black6 wrote: post #28

It looks like the the rider/pilot is expected to ride hunched over the ducted fan (?) intakes. I suppose it offers a lower center of gravity and is safer than the open rotors of the "flying motorbikes" the Dubai police were testing to much marketing fanfare, but... it still looks wrong from a human factors standpoint. Edit: turbine intakes, FTA.

It’s not too different to riding a motorcycle. You can rest across the engine intake protection grills and not uncomfortable.