So, is this the ultimate in what a recumbent can do?

Manx Cat · Post by **Manx Cat** » 21 Sep 2008, 4:23pm

Found this on teh BBC news online.

Its a recumbent that can FLY! So, is this the ultimate design in areonautical comfort? Looks very economical on the energy front... Wonder how many scones it takes to fly the channel on it.

crazy person here

Mary

byegad · Post by **byegad** » 21 Sep 2008, 4:33pm

Well after all the Wright brothers owned a cycle shop.

Cunobelin · Post by **Cunobelin** » 21 Sep 2008, 5:57pm

Well ......

Theres the Flyke - a paragliding recumbent...

Then there's the recumbent boats:

The recumbent hovercraft:

The recumbent submarine:

Anything we haven't covered......

Apart from the new speed record by Sam Whittigham at Battle Mountain of 82.33 mph in his Varna:

byegad · Post by **byegad** » 22 Sep 2008, 11:14am

The Flyke looks FUN!

Cunobelin · Post by **Cunobelin** » 22 Sep 2008, 10:22pm

In that case - more info here

byegad · Post by **byegad** » 23 Sep 2008, 8:35am

Somehow you get the feeling that the local rozzers would object to you taxiing at 40mph on the public road!

Looks good though.

kwackers · Post by **kwackers** » 23 Sep 2008, 9:15am

It's interesting... Paragliding doesn't require a license, but attach the wing to a trike (which obviously doesn't either) and you need a PPL (private pilots license.)

Handy for getting to the top of those steep hills though...

Do you think it would be a valid way to do jogle?

GeoffL · Post by **GeoffL** » 23 Sep 2008, 10:03am

However, footlaunched (even something like a Doodlebug) and no license is needed. It's the wheels that make the difference. At least the Flyke should be light enough to come under the new SSDR rules!

As to whether the Flyke would be a good end-to-end machine, I expect it would since some have already done Hanover to the Black Sea, a similar distance to an end-to-end, by Flyke!

Geoff

reohn2 · Post by **reohn2** » 29 Sep 2008, 6:07pm

Word of advice:-
If it doesn't have Boeing written on it don't fly in it :wink:

DaveP · Post by **DaveP** » 30 Sep 2008, 9:55am

I'm intrigued by the hovercraft - does it actually work? And does leg power drive both fan and airscrew?
However, as a bit of a waterbaby what I really liked was the catamaran. Something I've often fantasized about doing myself...
Have you any links for these, errm. creations?

Cunobelin · Post by **Cunobelin** » 1 Oct 2008, 7:26pm

DaveP wrote:I'm intrigued by the hovercraft - does it actually work? And does leg power drive both fan and airscrew?
However, as a bit of a waterbaby what I really liked was the catamaran. Something I've often fantasized about doing myself...
Have you any links for these, errm. creations?

All you need to know about the hovercraft is at Steam Boat Willy

As for watercraft - there are so many links!

The one in the images is a special build called the Decavitator, but there are lots of commercial and DIY builds

Some ideas Here and PedalMouse is a UK design build

kwackers · Post by **kwackers** » 1 Oct 2008, 7:40pm

reohn2 wrote:Word of advice:-
If it doesn't have Boeing written on it don't fly in it

Boeing or Boing?

Paragliders are incredibly safe - after all your parachute is up and open already!

GeoffL · Post by **GeoffL** » 1 Oct 2008, 8:39pm

kwackers wrote:Paragliders are incredibly safe - after all your parachute is up and open already!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs2QvsDibPI - made me wince.

Geoff

kwackers · Post by **kwackers** » 1 Oct 2008, 8:51pm

GeoffL wrote:
kwackers wrote:Paragliders are incredibly safe - after all your parachute is up and open already!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs2QvsDibPI - made me wince.

Geoff

Me too - I'd be gutted at loosing that sail...

When it comes to safety it beats a bike hands down, which is pretty rubbish when you think about it.
Cycling along a few feet of the floor at not much more than a jog is more dangerous than flying several thousand feet in the air...

Phil_Lee · Post by **Phil_Lee** » 1 Oct 2008, 11:16pm

kwackers wrote:It's interesting... Paragliding doesn't require a license, but attach the wing to a trike (which obviously doesn't either) and you need a PPL (private pilots license.)

Handy for getting to the top of those steep hills though...

Do you think it would be a valid way to do jogle?

Wouldn't a microlight licence cover it?

I've seen 3 axis rigids that are covered, so hard to see what would need the full PPL.

I don't think you could do the training for a PPL in one anyway, and not just for lack of space - it would be very difficult to demonstrate stall recovery in one!