While we’re waiting for the “roadable” airplane, the Transition, to come down to our price range—not to mention fly (but they did get it off the ground, in the first short flight test!)—check out this baby: a flying motorcycle called the Switchblade:
Switchblade flying motorcycle
That’s for me! You betcha! According to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, “Samson Motorworks has been working on a flying motorcycle, the Switchblade, for two and a half years. The three-wheel motorcycle’s design features three lifting surfaces, like the Piaggio Avanti, and side-by-side seating for two people… The wings will fold beneath the motorcycle’s body… Cameras will provide visibility to the rear, and an optional ballistic parachute will be offered.”
Oh man, I can’t wait. (It hasn’t flown yet, either, but it will. It will.) Buy a lot of those books from me, people—okay? A lot of books!
While we’re waiting, here’s a picture of the Transition in its first leap into the air.
Higher than high, faster than fast,
Out into space, into the sun
Look at her go when we give her the gun.”
—Space Academy Cadet Corps song,
from Tom Corbett, Space Cadet
Michael
The switchblade looks eerily a lot like Rick Hunter’s stunt plane at the beginning of the Robotech series (just got half way through watching it with my kids or the reference would have been lost on me too 🙂
Charlza
I thought looked familiar…Michael’s right!
Jeffrey A. Carver
I’m afraid I’m completely unfamiliar with the Robotech series! Is it a kids’ show?
Charlza
Robotech was originally a Japanese anime…fighter jets that could transform into large sized robots or an intermediate mod called Guardian.
He only really used the plane in the pilot and one other episode. I tried to find a photo, but couldn’t.
Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robotech