The Samson Switchblade flying car • Hacker News Board

Re: The Samson Switchblade flying car

#21

Post by yummypaint » Thu, Mar 12, 2020, 7:43 PM UTC

mdszy wrote: post #8

Every flying car startup is a grift, I guarantee. There are two possibilities when it comes to making a flying car viable 1. Use fossil fuels even less efficiently because now not only does your vehicle have to move forward, it now has to keep itself in the sky. 2. Use electric motors which are already hard enough to sell in cars because they don't give as much range, and then put them in an application where, again,…

The fundamental problem is always weight, which is why making a vehicle that encloses the rider like a car can only be efficient if it's sufficiently large to amortize the costs. I think the solution is flying motorcycles, which already exist in the form of paramotors and gyrocopters. Then the problem is that you're so light that stability and safety in wind is a problem. Despite their availability, i havent heard of anyone commuting to work via paramotor.

Re: The Samson Switchblade flying car

#22

Post by jonshariat » Thu, Mar 12, 2020, 7:45 PM UTC

The dream of the flying car isn't being able to drive and store a plane, its being able to leave your garage and land at work or get groceries. This means that vertical take off and landing, easy safe controls, and accessible pricing. There are huge challenges in each of those areas to overcome. This solution solves none of those.

Its still a really cool iteration of single engine planes. Easier/cheaper to store, uses gas, drive after landing. Just not at all a flying car in soul.

Re: The Samson Switchblade flying car

#23

Post by k__ » Thu, Mar 12, 2020, 7:55 PM UTC

Elv13 wrote: post #11

xwdv wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, there exists third possibility: balloon technology.

And a fourth: Ballistic cars

How bad of an idea would it be to bw catapulted to your destination?

Re: The Samson Switchblade flying car

#24

Post by jfk13 » Thu, Mar 12, 2020, 7:58 PM UTC

The FAQ says "We are now only months away from first flight".

Hmm... back in 2017, they were "hoping to make the first flight by the end of [that] year". https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/samson-motorworks-swi...

So how long has that FAQ entry been in place, I wonder?

Re: The Samson Switchblade flying car

#25

Post by ddoolin » Thu, Mar 12, 2020, 8:02 PM UTC

mdszy wrote: post #8

Every flying car startup is a grift, I guarantee. There are two possibilities when it comes to making a flying car viable 1. Use fossil fuels even less efficiently because now not only does your vehicle have to move forward, it now has to keep itself in the sky. 2. Use electric motors which are already hard enough to sell in cars because they don't give as much range, and then put them in an application where, again,…

It's a bit hyperbolic to call it a "grift." Impose enough constraints on the idea of a flying car and sure, you can achieve it without swindling. The responses here are enough to tell me that people have very different ideas of what a "flying car" really is. I can't really comment on this specifically but I don't think there's any malicious intent.

Re: The Samson Switchblade flying car

#26

Post by muppet_frog » Thu, Mar 12, 2020, 8:10 PM UTC

k__ wrote: post #23

Elv13 wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And a fourth: Ballistic cars

How bad of an idea would it be to bw catapulted to your destination?

Ahem...trebuchets are superior to catapults in every way.

Re: The Samson Switchblade flying car

#27

Post by aidenn0 » Thu, Mar 12, 2020, 8:45 PM UTC

Tricycle layout (2 wheels in back, 1 in front) cars have always cornered poorly compared to the reverse. I honestly don't know why this is, but it would be a concern for me with this vehicle.

Re: The Samson Switchblade flying car

#28

Post by k__ » Thu, Mar 12, 2020, 9:54 PM UTC

muppet_frog wrote: post #26

k__ wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How bad of an idea would it be to bw catapulted to your destination?

Ahem...trebuchets are superior to catapults in every way.

Okay, but is this viable?

Re: The Samson Switchblade flying car

#29

Post by jccooper » Thu, Mar 12, 2020, 10:11 PM UTC

Calling it a flying car seems to be triggering a lot of misunderstanding. It's not really a flying car, it's more of a driving airplane, but I guess that doesn't get as much attention.

You're not going to use this for commuting from the suburbs, but for midrange travel and/or those inclined to general aviation, there's a lot of use to an aircraft that isn't confined to the airport.

Re: The Samson Switchblade flying car

#30

Post by yellowapple » Thu, Mar 12, 2020, 10:34 PM UTC

yummypaint wrote: post #21

mdszy wrote: post #8

Every flying car startup is a grift, I guarantee. There are two possibilities when it comes to making a flying car viable 1. Use fossil fuels even less efficiently because now not only does your vehicle have to move forward, it now has to keep itself in the sky. 2. Use electric motors which are already hard enough to sell in cars because they don't give as much range, and then put them in an application where, again,…

The fundamental problem is always weight, which is why making a vehicle that encloses the rider like a car can only be efficient if it's sufficiently large to amortize the costs. I think the solution is flying motorcycles, which already exist in the form of paramotors and gyrocopters. Then the problem is that you're so light that stability and safety in wind is a problem. Despite their availability, i havent heard of…

> Despite their availability, i havent heard of anyone commuting to work via paramotor.

I suspect that has more to do with the FAA taking less than kindly to flying ultralights over "congested areas" (I don't know if powered parasails / hang gliders are subject to the same restriction). If I could fly to work I would in a heartbeat.