A year after it was pronounced airworthy by the FAA, and 14 years after it was first announced, the Samson Sky Switchblade is officially off the ground. This street-legal three-wheeler converts to a 200-mph (320-km/h) airplane at the touch of a button.
  • CaptRon25@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    It’s obvious you will have to be a licensed pilot for one of these. Possibly under the FAA Light Sport Rule.

    To qualify for LSA, max takeoff gross weight 1320 lbs, max stall spd 51mph, max level cruise 138mph. Since they claim 160 cruise spd, it would disqualify if for LSA. Also with 36gal of fuel weighing 218lbs, I doubt this will be 1320lbs or under gross weight.

    If it’s not qualified for light sport aircraft, then it would have to qualify for 14 CFR Part 23, and require a Private Pilot License, single engine land cert at minimum. I can’t see this supposed $150k airplane being certified for IFR (instrument flight rules), and don’t see this airplane being less than $300k or more. More than likely operated under FAA experimental rules.

    This is really just a novelty toy when it comes down to it. Obviously intended to take off from an un-controlled airport to land at another un-controlled airport and drive it to your lake cottage or something. But why buy this when you can buy a rebuilt Cessna with a new engine for a fraction. Renting or sub-rent hanger space at an un-controlled airport doesn’t cost much, and you can buy a cheap used car to keep at your destination. I seriously doubt this will ever get off the ground, and if it does, it will be short lived.

    Sorry for the long rant, but some seem to think any Joe Blow will be able to fly one of these. The thought of autonomous flying vehicles like the Jetsons won’t happen in our grand children’s life time. There’s way more to it than people think.

    • h2sux2@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      10 months ago

      I think the target audience will still be licensed pilots that own their aircraft. But instead of buying a small plane that need to be stored in a hangar, you can drive this to your home garage from the local airstrip/airport. Or use it to drive around town at your destination and then drive back to the airport for takeoff on your way back. So if you don’t own a Cessna or were planning to get one, this is probably not for you. Very niche, still cool IMO.

    • wolftick@alien.topBEnglish
      0·
      10 months ago

      They need to be fully automated when flying.

      It makes sense because flying in largely open 3 dimensional space is comparatively easy for computers but harder for humans, whereas driving on roads is the opposite.

      • alman12345@alien.topBEnglish
        1·
        10 months ago

        The only reason it’s harder for the computers on the roads is because there are a lot more stupid humans in close proximity than there would be in open air. Under a well designed fully autonomous system cars wouldn’t need 95% of the things we humans need to drive effectively.