Air cars will never fly (911 more reasons)

gatt wrote:

GPS is not an accepted form of primary instrument natigation, is it?



Not ... now.

Plus...how would we hit raccoons and possum?!


That's the real issue (although we go for hares and hedgehogs, this side
of the Atlantic). Yet, a whole world of flying beasties would be
available (bats, dragons...)

writes:

Heard about the GPS ?

GPS was covered in some detail in the original 1998 thread. GPS just
isn't accurate or reliable enough for a lot of fast-moving objects in
a crowded space.

But if all GPSs are consistent in their error, then their relative
accuracy w.r.t. each other will serve.

But like others, I don't think aircars are practical for other
reasons. Anyway, why telecommuting isn't being promoted more is a
mystery to me...why not tax subsidies for cheap reliable bandwidth?
For development of large cheap screens? For....

"Peter Duniho" wrote in message ...
wrote in message
...
Almost five years ago I started a thread critiquing the technological
and aesthetic problems associated with air cars [...]

Back then, I was surprised to see so many defenders of this insanely
complex, unsafe, environmentally disruptive nightmare, but I think
today's new world has put the final nail in the coffin.

You came back five years later just to say "I told you so"?

Not that I believe you really had that many people disagreeing with you
anyway. Not in the rec.aviation.piloting newsgroup. But doesn't your post
strike you as just a little petty?

Pete

"Air Cars", what a weird thing to spend time worrying about.

Bob Fry wrote:


But like others, I don't think aircars are practical for other
reasons. Anyway, why telecommuting isn't being promoted more is a
mystery to me...why not tax subsidies for cheap reliable bandwidth?
For development of large cheap screens? For....

Thank you!
All the talk of air pollution, traffic congestion, road rage, etc.
associated with commuting, and the government is strangely silent on
promoting telecommuting which is IMHO an extremely viable option at this
point.
Hell, I do freelance work for people all over the world by email alone.
I hardly ever need to speak to my clients by phone.
The deafening silence on this issue makes me wonder what the government
has at stake by *not* encouraging this business model...
--
Jeff 'The Wizard of Draws' Bucchino

"Cartoons with a Touch of Magic"
http://www.wizardofdraws.com
http://www.cartoonclipart.com

240 messages
containing some unbelievable overconfidence in technology and lack of
aesthetic concern

Why do aesthetics become a concern? AIUI, safety and economics will stop this
show anyway, but...do you find clogged freeways and smog-bowls over cities to
be aesthetic?

On Sat, 27 Sep 2003 23:06:51 +0200, Gilles KERMARC
wrote:



wrote:


6) Navigation in an air car would be a nightmare since it can be hard
enough to reach a destination with defined roads and street markings.
How would people know where they were, especially at night?

Heard about the GPS ?


Which one?



Christopher
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Kites rise highest against
the wind - not with it."
Winston Churchill

wrote in message . ..
Almost five years ago I started a thread critiquing the technological
and aesthetic problems associated with air cars, i.e. millions of
people duking it out in small aircraft instead of automobiles. See:

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=e...l+never+fly%22

It was based on this man's (and other technophiles') naive, unworkable
vision of air cars replacing most ground traffic.

http://www.houstonspacesociety.org/whynotfly.htm

Back then, I was surprised to see so many defenders of this insanely
complex, unsafe, environmentally disruptive nightmare, but I think
today's new world has put the final nail in the coffin. I hope the
latest reason goes without saying! See subject line.

A.J.

You think this will never happen? Not even 10 or 20 years from now?
You're like those people back in the early 1800's that said humans
would not be able to survive going faster than 45 mph.

Whose to say what will come of energy development and navigation
technology in the not too distant future? With our current power
problems and the development of nanotechnology I think neglected
research in Fusion and portable power storage (i.e. batteries) will
start to become more of a priority. Include our ever increasing
traffic congestion, and I see the potential for some sort of aircar.
No, not 5 years from now. But eventually I could see it.

Recently, Bob Fry posted:

writes:

Heard about the GPS ?

GPS was covered in some detail in the original 1998 thread. GPS just
isn't accurate or reliable enough for a lot of fast-moving objects in
a crowded space.

But if all GPSs are consistent in their error, then their relative
accuracy w.r.t. each other will serve.

Oh? How about relative accuracy w/r/t buildings, houses, and other
obstructions?

IMNSHO, this has to be thought through a bit more. We're running out of
deserted spaces to operate this kind of thing.

Neil

In article ,
wrote:

On Sat, 27 Sep 2003 23:06:51 +0200, Gilles KERMARC
wrote:

wrote:


6) Navigation in an air car would be a nightmare since it can be hard
enough to reach a destination with defined roads and street markings.
How would people know where they were, especially at night?

Heard about the GPS ?

GPS was covered in some detail in the original 1998 thread. GPS just
isn't accurate or reliable enough for a lot of fast-moving objects in
a crowded space. I've used a GPS handheld extensively and would not
bet my life on its resolution of 14 feet, or even 1 foot if such
accuracy was possible for the public.

Besides, GPS is just one of many flaws in the concept.

A.J.

Obviously, Al is NOT a pilot! Otherwise, he would know enough to look
outside the cockpit for other traffic! Gadgets are a useful SUPPLEMENT
to the Mk I eyeball -- NOT a substitute!

As for the Moller Aircar: IMHO the thing is a first order scam.
Technically, Moller's design is a controls nightmare -- eight engines
with a completely fly-by-wire control system. What happens when one or
more engines shut down?

Moller, like Al, is not a pilot - his attitude is that flight training
would "disrupt his train of thought," rather than provide him with
insightful soultions.

Bob Fry wrote:

Anyway, why telecommuting isn't being promoted more is a
mystery to me...

That's simple enough. Company policies are actually enforced by fairly low-level
managers. If they can't cruise by your cubicle or office to make sure you're
really working, many of them aren't comfortable, so they will make up reasons
why you must appear in person. Managers who are insecure in their jobs also
tend to be meeting schedulers so that it will appear that they are hard workers.
I worked for a firm that had an official policy that employees telecommute when
possible, but somehow it was rarely possible. At the time I left, they were
moving to a six-day work week, with a mandatory standing meeting on Saturday
morning.

George Patterson
The British drink warm beer because they all own Lucas refrigerators.