what size engine is required to propel a vehicle about the size of a compact car in the air?
running a propeller how big would an engine need to be to make a flying machine say the size (though not the weight) of a mini-cooper? Why aren’t vehicles that fly at low altitudes (say 50-500 feet) being developed?
200 hp should do it.
pretty much comes down to aerodynamics. The real question is how much power to launch it?
There is awful lot of stuff to run into at 50 ft.
The world isn’t ready for the addition of the z axis to commuting on a general scale.
200 HP? If you are going for fun, at least 300 HP.
if you put enough power behind an object it will fly.
I have seen enough stupid driving right here on the ground to safely believe that most people should never be at the controls of an aircraft of any kind. Tens of thousands of people are killed in cars every year, versus hundreds in aircraft. That statistic alone should plainly spell out why low-flying personal aircraft on a large scale would be an unparalleled disaster. As for power, 200-300 horsepower would probably do it. 135 horsepower or so is what it takes to get something like a Rotorway personal helicopter off the ground. They weight about 1,500 pounds.
i think it works out like this. You have to have a lifting surface of some kind. You can power a car into the air with out wings but its more of a jump not actual flying. Also, if you want to keep it in the air you will need to build into the design some kind of Dihedral for lateral stability. I’ve read and seen cars take flight with a 190 horse recip engine. So how much power really doesn’t matter. Its really the design. I’ts been done.
KEEPING IN MIND THAT WEIGHT CAN BE TAKEN CARE OF WE STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM OF AERODYNAMICS TO HANDLE WHICH IS NOT THAT EASY FOR COMPACT VEHICLES SUCH AS CARS.NOT TO MENTION THAT HANDLING A VEHICLE WHICH RUNS ON PROPELLER THAN ON I.C. ENGINE WILL SURE REQUIRE TRAINED DRIVERS{OR SHOULD I SAY PILOTS}WHICH CAN STILL BE A PROBLEM.THE POWER DEVELOPED FROM PROPELLER IS NO MATCH FOR THE POWER FROM I.C. ENGINE.WE WOULD THEN BE ZOOMING AT NORMAL SPEEDS OF SAY 150KM/HR.
KEEPING IN MIND THE GENERAL PUBLIC IT IS NOT A FEASIBLE OPTION AS IT WON’T BE DRIVEN BY ALL.ALSO EVERY TIME YOUR WIFE WANTS TO GO FOR SHOPPING SHE WILL TAKE YOU NOT AS A HUSBAND BUT AS THE DRIVER.SO EVERY TIME YOU GET HOME TIRED FROM DAY’S WORK YOU STILL HAVE TO GO OUT NOT FOR ROMANCE BUT FOR SHOPPING EVEN FOR YOUR GROCERIES.SO ARE YOU READY TO TRY THAT STUNT ON MANKIND??