CompositesWorld
Issue link: https://cw.epubxp.com/i/882089
TRENDS OCTOBER 2017 18 CompositesWorld Take the Lead. From weaving preparation to shed formation to individually configurable weaving system solutions, Stäubli offers innovative machines and systems that produce high quality technical textiles for a wide range of applications. Pick up Stäubli's know-how and rise to the top of the textile charts. www.staubli.com/textile A N N I V E R S A R Y 0 2 HPC Charter Advertiser The aviation industry's interest in the concept of cars that can fly (or rather, planes that can ride the roads) dates back at least to the early 1950s. The Experimental Aircraft Assn.'s (EAA) AirVenture airshow, known back then as the Oshkosh Fly-In, was often the stage for unveiling flying car prototypes. At the 2017 event (Oshkosh, WI, US; July 24-30), there were several such unveilings. An ambitious startup headed by Sanjay Dhall, Detroit Flying Cars (Detroit, MI, US), had on display a nearly Flying cars are among the stars in Oshkosh AEROSPACE road-ready prototype at the event. The carbon fiber composite design has main wings and a front canard that retract completely into the car body/fuselage when the vehi- cle is driven as a car, according to an EAA press article by Randy Dufault. The challenge was how to collapse the wing, which has the same area as a Cessna 150's wing, into a space only 6 ft/1.8m wide, behind the vehicle's seats. Consequently, the prototype's left canard is higher than the right, and the back wing follows the same high-low, asymmetric design. The company's goal, says Dhall, is a product that people will believe is a car, and not an airplane that is too complex. A conventional reciprocating propulsion drives the craft's pusher propeller in flight; electric motors that require no gears or transmission handle motion on the ground. Detroit Flying Cars is undecided on a kit or a manufacturing option. A flying sports car, the Switchblade (see photo, at left), was introduced by Samson Motors (Meadow Vista, CA, US) and is expected to fly this fall. Technically a three-wheeled motorcycle when on the road, it will be classed as an experimental aircraft in the skies and sold as a kit. Estimated assembly time is three weeks — Samson will have assem- bly lines set up on which homebuilders can work on their kit with help from staff members. Samson estimates kit Source | Samson Motors