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US Air Force just demoed its first flying car, and it's excessive:
It's no secret that the US Air Force wants flying cars. The branch of the US Military announced last year that it was starting to explore electric vertical take off and landing (eVTOL) craft, and earlier this year, said it wants 30 vehicles in service by 2030.
After its first demonstration last week, the Air Force has just got a little closer to this goal.
[...] On Thursday last week, officials gathered in Austin, Texas to witness the first demonstration of a flying car, the 18 rotor Hexa made by Texas eVTOL startup, LIFT Aircraft.
[...] The picture below shows you pretty much everything else you need to know. The Hexa generates lift with a load of electric rotors, has space for one passenger, and it takes off from a standstill in a vertical direction.
One thing is for sure, these eVTOL craft look kinda dorky, or you might even say excessive. We'll have to come round to their aesthetic sooner or later because that excessiveness is kind of a safety requirement. LIFT says that the Hexa can land safely with up to six rotors disabled.
The demonstration was all part of what the Air Force calls its Agility Prime program, a collection of developers, communities, and events that aims to spearhead the development of personal eVTOL flying cars.
(Score: 2) by Subsentient on Wednesday August 26 2020, @06:18AM (5 children)
That shit can be made a hell of a lot cheaper than our military is currently getting billed for.
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." -Jiddu Krishnamurti
(Score: 2) by PiMuNu on Wednesday August 26 2020, @08:17AM
> That shit can be made a hell of a lot cheaper than our military is currently getting billed for.
Last time I checked, that "shit" can't be made at all.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Wednesday August 26 2020, @09:32AM (3 children)
If you think a hypersonic railgun or a high powered laser turn cheaper than that gizmo, I have a couple of bridges to sell you for cheap. I'll even throw the Eiffel Tower in the bargain.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by Subsentient on Wednesday August 26 2020, @10:27AM (2 children)
We *know* it can be done much cheaper, because other nations, notably China, have done it.
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." -Jiddu Krishnamurti
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Wednesday August 26 2020, @12:40PM
Then go make your hypersonic railgun in China.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 1) by nostyle on Wednesday August 26 2020, @03:29PM
As someone who has actually seen a hypersonic railgun fire, I can assure you that there are considerable challenges to making it a viable armament. The physical limitations are the same in every country, and there is no "cheap" way to overcome them. While the tech has been known about for decades, there are reasons you have yet to see them on a battlefield.