Ad hoc Notes

Flying Pig

It might be interesting to somehow integrate some of the FlightGear functionality into GoogleEarth or vice versa.

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After watching a number of youtube videos, I think an almost jetski style saddle might make sense. The seating has to be comfortable.

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This vehicle is not just for off road, it's literally for off the map!

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Pontoons will seat and lock onto the skids when desired.

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Rear thruster/pusher fan and vanes (directional control wings/surfaces) may be helpful enhancements...

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The helmet, if not the machine itself, should have noise cancellation for the motors/engines/fans, the noise making parts of the assembly...

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The propellers need to be minimum of one radius space from each other tip/end from tip/end, and "ideally" they should be one diameter space between each other tip from tip. The configuration or arrangement of the propellers should be a square. The shorter the arms, the less the vehicle weighs. Here is a video that gets the idea across, though it fails to completely explain why...

http://youtu.be/DQ5odUPQVbw

I'll continue to gather information about lengths and spacing...

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I've been thinking about how to go about prototyping for a while. I think I will first construct a cardboad model to be sure about the shapes, angles and lengths. Then I will decide what "real" material to try.

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GEN Corporation developed GEN-H4, a compact single-seat helicopter. Equipped with a miniature engine of 125cc (8 horse power) and two propellers, it can reach a flying speed of 90 km (56 miles) per hour.

http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gen-h-4-personal-helicopter

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Birch wood is about 44 lbs per cubic ft. The propellers are birch (for now...).

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/weigt-wood-d_821.html

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So far, weight excluding the structure is around 700 lbs., mostly it's the batteries (660 lbs.) It seems pointless, but if a gas engine can generate enough electricity, effectively making it a "hybrid", then it might be a better trade off for the weight...

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Fail safe parachutes might make sense...

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Apparently, propeller radius/diameter determine the (minimum and ideal) size of the vehicle. For now, the plan is for 6 foot long propellers. so the overall (ideal) dimension is 18 feet and the minimum (length & width) is 15 feet.

Since the propellers are to be enclosed, I think an additional 3 in X 4 is sensible to add, so minimum is 16 feet square and, so called, ideal is 19 feet square.

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A Harley-Davidson "Ultra Limited" touring bike weighs, in running order, 896 lbs.

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Some minor so called super capacitor information

http://youtu.be/jpy8G3yBeJ4

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It's starting to look like kerosine engines are the way to go. Fuel would be "bio-kero". Apparently, rice is good for producing it. I think there must be a better option, but that's the current information available to me.

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Knocked over the assembled parts my quad-copter mockup whilst working on another part of it--J.B. Weld epoxy is over hyped... Very vexing... Anyway, it makes me wonder if the main "body" of the frame, the fuselage, should be unit forged as opposed to welded together pipes like a typical motorcycle.

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I think graphene paper would be too pricey to make or use...

http://cleantechnica.com/2011/04/29/scientists-create-material-10x-stronger-than-steel-with-malleability/

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Fiberglass info

http://youtu.be/kOX6qWwG_v4

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Aircraft parts, supplies and instruments

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/

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Aluminum skeleton, phenolic-based methylene-linked synthetic polymer expanding foam filler, carbon fiber cloth epoxy laminate skin (exo-skeleton), conduits for wiring and whatever else