MotoPOD
February 13, 2010
MotoPOD ($8,000) allows you to carry a motorcycle and enjoy immediate ground transportation at EVERY airport. Enjoy a level of freedom and mobility that most pilots only dream about. It’s the freedom to visit new places, explore your destinations and see what you’ve been missing. The pod can hold a 255lb modified Yamaha XT-225 223cc motorcycle which has a top speed of 85mph. The bike is specially designed to fold up and be loaded onto the plane in under 5 minutes! Not having to pay for a rental car could save you $3,000 a year, which means the MotoPOD could easily pay for its self in just a few years! See more photos and a video.
Yuneec E430 Electric Plane
January 28, 2010
The E430 from the British company Yuneec is the first electric plane set for commercial production. It only costs approximately $2 per hour in fuel to operate, with enough charge for up to a 3 hour flight. This light sport aircraft will set you back $89,000 when it comes out sometime 2011. Read the rest of this entry »
Explorer Aero Ecoflyer – Two-Seat Light Sport Aircraft
March 2, 2009
The Ecoflyer, a two-seat light sport aircraft, is the “up, up and away” airplane for those seeking their own adventures. The price to own a lightweight Ecoflyer airplane is conservatively from $100,000 up to $300,000 depending on what extras you want. This airplane boasts a cabin space of 152 cubic feet making it roomy enough to comfortably fit anything you may need to take on your trip. Imagine being able to go anywhere your heart desires, and there’s no need for hotel reservations. This plane is big enough to sleep in, just bring a sleeping bag and let the adventure begin.
Airship Ventures
February 28, 2009
Airship Ventures is a company that offers daily sightseeing flights of the surrounding regions in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Zepplin NT is state of the art and is constructed of a durable, multi-layered material which protects the airship’s outer hull. The ship is also composed of aluminum and carbon fiber which ensures the stability and safety of all flights. Airship Ventures has a sterling safety record of no accidents since August 2001 with thousands of passengers daily experiencing a tour of one of the greatest cities in the world. The company also offers corporate and personal event accommodations, as well as scientific missions. Airship Ventures flies out of Moffett Field, the Oakland Terminal, and the Monterey Terminal. There are more photos.
KTM Ascender Concept
January 19, 2009
I <3 flying bikes, so how could I not like this flying contraption built by a bike manufacturer?! Industrial design students at Austria’s FH Joanneum University were instructed to create designs that could logically fit into KTM’s brand 10 years from now, all while keeping with KTM‘s identity. The KTM Ascender concept, designed by Mariko IIjima, Richard Kastner-Puschl & Richard Mohos would be powered by a gas turbine and have a top speed of 120 km/h. More photos.
Dragonflyer X6
September 26, 2008
Starting at $15,000 the Dragonflyer X6 is quite the radio controlled aircraft. It is used in professional photography, military, and emergency applications. The X6 is basically a six-rotor co-axial r/c helicopter used for aerial photography/surveillance. See more photos.
SkyBike
July 31, 2008
Ever since I saw the Icon A5 I have been advocating the need for a flying motorcycle. Apparently Samson Motorworks has something like that in the works. Their SkyBike is a three-wheel enclosed vehicle. Samson claims “you can drive in air conditioned comfort to a local airport where the wings are extended, fly to another airport to land, retract the wings and then continue to drive wherever you want to go.” The use of a motorcycle engine enables the plane to use regular gas. They expect the SkyBike to; get 55mpg economy on land, 25mpg in the air, have a 95mph maximum road velocity / 140mph+ while flying, do 0-60mph in six seconds and it should only need a 500′ runway to take off. Right not it is only a concept but Samson Motorworks says they are close to production. See more pictures.
ICON A5 Aircraft
June 14, 2008
The ICON A5 Sport Aircraft should be available in 2010 for $139,000. It seats two, has a max weight of 1430 lbs, a max speed of 120 mph, is powered by a Rotax 912 ULS (100 hp) engine, and has an optional safety parachute (for the whole plane). More details and full specs are on their website. See more pictures.
Air Suit
April 4, 2008
This custom fit air suit allows you to fall fly through the sky like a flying squirrel. It is sold to experienced sky divers only. The suit costs $1,250 and takes approximately 8 to 10 weeks for them to make it for you. [via]
Aeroscraft ML866 Flying Yacht
August 10, 2007
Ever since I saw the Hindenburg going down in flames in history class I never actually had the desire to take a ride in a blimp like aircraft but all that has changed now that I have seen the new ML866. The soon to be launched Aeroscraft ML866 is a expansive aircraft that has said to have over 5,000 square feet of interior space that can be utilized as anything form a high-tech business center to a private yacht in the sky. The ML866 uses a combination of buoyancy and lift (mix of technology from a plane and a blimp) which allows for a a completely vertical take-off and landing and allows for unparalleled levels of efficiency and operational capability. However the only downside is that the top speed of the ML866 is only 120 knots so any long distance traveling will certainly be slow. The Aeroscraft ML866 is said to be launched at the upcoming NBAA 60th Annual Meeting and Convention in September, 2007 in Atlanta so hopefully at that time we will have more details about this unique aircraft
