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Larry Page is pouring millions into flying cars

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Re: Larry Page is pouring millions into flying cars

#6

Why would the VTOL miniplanes described in the article be better than small helicopters, which take off the same way?

Planes are way more energy efficient in normal forward flight. And electric multicopters, like the popular camera drones, you don't need much of the mechanics of a traditional helicopter.

Re: Larry Page is pouring millions into flying cars

#8

Why would the VTOL miniplanes described in the article be better than small helicopters, which take off the same way?

aerodynamic stability to glide down to emergency landing area should problem arise. more power efficient in cruise flight.

Helicopters can land without power (autorotate) or if the tail rotator fails.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autorotation

Re: Larry Page is pouring millions into flying cars

#10
How's the Ehang 184 coming along?[1] That's an electric flying car, essentially a big 8-prop drone, announced last June. They're targeting short-distance travel within big, crowded cities in China. China's 1% will be able to get across Beijing in 10 minutes.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs4nDFgVx2o

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