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| Skycar M400 | |
|---|---|
| Role | Flying car (aircraft) |
| Manufacturer | Moller International |
| Designer | Paul Moller |
| Status | Under development |
| Unit cost | US$500,000 (estimated)[1] |
Contents
Description
The craft said to be currently under development, the M400, is purported to ultimately transport four people; single-seat up to six-seat variations are also planned.[3] It is described as a car since it is aimed at being a popular means of transport for anyone who can drive, incorporating automated flight controls, with the driver only inputting direction and speed required.After forty years and $100,000,000 in expenditure[4] the Skycar demonstrated limited tethered hovering capability in 2003.[5] No subsequent testing has occurred, although public demonstrations have been announced and then cancelled.[6] It has been extensively marketed for pre-order sale since the 1990's as Moller attempted to raise more money for 'development' but fifty years on is often cited as a real world example of physical product vaporware.
In April 2009, the National Post characterized the Moller M400 Skycar as a 'failure', and described the Moller company as "no longer believable enough to gain investors".[7] On May 18, 2009, Dr. Moller has filed for protection under the Chapter 11 reorganization provisions of the federal bankruptcy law[8] and it is unknown how this will impact the fate of his ideas.
Operation
A Skycar is not piloted like a traditional fixed wing airplane, and has only two hand-operated controls, which the pilot uses to inform the computer control system of her or his desired flight maneuvers.[9] The Skycar's ducted fans deflect air vertically for takeoff and horizontally for forward flight. The ducted fans also encase the propellers, which prevents bystanders from being exposed to moving blades as well as improving aerodynamic efficiency at low speeds.Rotapower engines
The engines to be used are being developed by a separate Moller company called Freedom Motors.[10] They are Wankel engines they call "Rotapower" which have a direct drive to a propulsion fan.[11][12] Each fan is contained in Kevlar-lined housings with intake screens to provide protection to bystanders.[11] The Skycar has four engine nacelles, each with two computer-controlled Rotapower engines. All eight engines operate independently and, allegedly, will allow for a vertical controlled landing should any one fail.[11]The Rotapower Wankel engine would have the ability to operate on any fuel.[12] Earlier Rotapower models used gasoline.
Variants
- Moller M150 Skycar
- The initial single seat technology demonstrator, incorporating the fuselage of a Bede BD-5 with two of Mollers ducted fan propulsor units.
- Moller M400 Skycar
- The proposed production version powered by four Moller propulsors incorporating Rotapower 500 wankel rotary engines
- Moller M600 Skycar
- Proposed further development of the Skycar series
Specifications (M400X Skycar)
Data from [13]
General characteristics- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 3
- Length: 19 ft 6 in (5.9 m)
- Wingspan: 8 ft 6 in (2.6 m)
- Height: 7 ft 6 in (2.3 m)
- Empty weight: 2,400 lb (1,088 kg)
- Powerplant: 4 × Rotapower 500 Wankel rotary engines, 180 hp (134 kW) each
- Maximum speed: 330 mph (531 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 305 mph (491 km/h)
- Service ceiling: 36,000 ft (10,973 m)
- Rate of climb: 4,800 ft/min (24.38 m/s)
Criticism
The only flight demonstrations have been hover tests performed in 2003 by a Skycar prototype that for insurance reasons was tethered to a crane.[14] The ongoing failure of the Moller company to actually fly an M400 led the National Post to characterize the Skycar as a 'failure'.[15]Whilst the physics behind the Skycar is rarely criticised it is the management of the company and the inability to bring a product to market that draws the most ire from commentators.[16]
Pre-sales
In October 2006, Moller attempted to auction the only prototype of its M400 model on eBay. It failed to sell. The highest bid was $3,000,100; Moller reported at the annual meeting of stockholders on October 21, 2006 in Davis, California, that the reserve price had been $3,500,000.[17] A previous attempt in 2003 to sell the M400 via eBay was also unsuccessful.[18]SEC complaint
In 2003, the Securities and Exchange Commission sued Moller for civil fraud (Securities And Exchange Commission v. Moller International, Inc., and Paul S. Moller, Defendants) in connection with the sale of unregistered stock, and for making unsubstantiated claims about the performance of the Skycar. Moller settled this lawsuit by agreeing to a permanent injunction and paying $50,000.[19] In the words of the SEC complaint, "As of late 2002, MI's approximately 40 years' [sic] of development has resulted in a prototype Skycar capable of hovering about fifteen feet above the ground."[19]Joint venture
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed in January 2013 between Moller International and a US-China and e-business network agreeing to the goal of developing production for Moller Skycars in the United States and the People's Republic of China.[20]Notable appearances in media
Main article: Aircraft in fiction#Moller M400 Skycar
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