[NEWS ABROAD]: Flying motorcycle!!! - xBhp.com : The Global Indian Biking Community

Old Fox · 12-12-2008, 05:24 PM

Check out this new concept by the US based Samson Motorworks (web-site link here)

They call it the Skybike. As an Areonautical Engineer by education and a motorcyclist by passion

(no not the HH made Passion), I could hardly resist posting this.

The specs read as below (taken from their web-site). They are presently using existing motorcycle engines. Plan to go in for a worked upon Wankel rotary later.

Samson Motorworks Skybike

The SkyBike™ is the kit-built flying version of the vehicle, and the first to be unveiled. Providing what man has been dreaming of for decades, this vehicle is designed to deliver exciting acceleration and handling on the ground, as well as comfortable and reliable flight capability. The flat-panel instrument display changes automatically from flight instruments to ground instruments. Ready for any country with a door on each side of the driver, ready for any weather with the ability to drive or fly, ready for any emergency with the ability to take off from any flat surface and land on any flat surface. It is quick enough for the fast lane, legal in the carpool lane, and sexy enough for the red carpet.
Meet the SkyBike™.

Preliminary Specifications:

 Estimated MGTOW = 1340 LB (Maximum Gross Take-off Weight)

 LENGTH = 15’- 6”

 WIDTH = 6’- 4”

 HEIGHT = 4’-1”

 SEATS = 2

 MAXIMUM SPEED = 95 mph on wheels, 140 mph flying

 RANGE = 500 miles ground, 220 miles air

 MPG = Estimated 55 mpg ground, 25 mpg air

 WINGSPAN = 19’ – 5” main, 6’- 4” canard

 WING AREA = 88 S.F.

 WING LOADING = 15 psf

 ENGINE = 120-180 hp motorcycle engine (three choices)

 ESTIMATED TBO = 2,000 hours (Time Between Major Overhauls)

 FUEL = regular unleaded automobile gasoline

 FUEL CAPACITY = 10.1 gallons including reserve

 STALL SPEED = 55 mph

STANDARD FEATURES =
Driver adjustable seat, five or six speed transmission with forward, neutral, reverse, and flight mode, lexan front windshield and side windows, heating & air conditioning, stereo cd player, California emissions compliant, seat belt / safety harness, front and rear disc brakes, anti-lock brake system, video rear view monitor, flexible electronic instrument main panel – switches from air to ground instruments automatically, GPS moving map with VOR navigation capability, automatic vehicle leaning in turns, extendable wings, dual ground/air lighting system, redundant ignition system, ELT (emergency location transmitter), back-up air speed, attitude and altimeter, ballistic chute recovery system.

I found reading through the FAQ on the web-site pretty entertaining. Here is one gem:

Aren’t motorcycles more dangerous to drive on the roads than cars?
Motorcycles give more freedom of control, are faster to react, and bring the outside world closer to you as you drive past. For many, their exhilaration provided by the mode of transportation, with the nimble handling and the ability to lean through turns, outweighs the fact that there is less (or nothing) to protect you in an accident. In a typical motorcycle, your protection is what you wear, (leather, helmet) and your ability to react much faster than other vehicles can. The main problem is the apparent invisibility of a motorcycle to surrounding drivers. In the SkyBike, nimble handling common to motorcycles significantly remains, as does the ability to lean into turns. The visibility of the SkyBike to other drivers is significantly increased over that of a motorcycle.

Personally, I like the concept though have my own mis-givings about its actual practicality> Technically, a wing-loading as low as 15 pounds to a square foot would make for a very twitchy airplane. Would need only the calmest of days to use it.

Sends an Indian motorcyclists' imagination soaring though. Fly over the muck that litters our national highways and land somewhere close to the hills. Wow! straight to the twisties

Open your hearts and minds to a motorcycle that actually flies (low)

Old Fox

Aryan · 12-12-2008, 05:25 PM

News Approved.

Would really help, atleast during the rush hours!

Joel · 12-12-2008, 05:43 PM

Awesome stuff. When I ride, I always wonder if there is any way we can make the bike literally fly, here it is

.

Old Fox · 12-12-2008, 05:47 PM

Wish everything in life was granted as fast as Aryan's approval of this thread!

Thanks.

Yes Joel, and start thinking of ways to upgrade this 'superbike's' performance

. It'll literally give you a 'high'!

george katie · 12-13-2008, 12:51 AM

Like in the movie Transformers, once you are on the road for sometime and the rush picks up...stretch out the wings and zoom fly away like a ...bird, swft, jet maybe a place or whatever...lol

Serious Concept for the Future...

tazz · 12-13-2008, 03:50 AM

Hey cool its a twin seater, i can carry a air hostess with me when i fly in one of those

on a serious note you will be pulled over on the roads and god know what kind of papers you must have to drive/fly one of those. Also flying license would be needed i guess.

ken cool · 12-13-2008, 07:07 AM

The aeronautical engineer cometh!

If this comes along, we will need the services of Old Fox to develop and fit aftermarket wings to accommodate cornering, performance fuselage and double bubble nose... you will have busy days ahead!

MACH50 · 12-13-2008, 11:34 AM

ekdum bakwas design hai.
motorcycles are great due to their high order of manouverability and this "PLANE" does not look so.Better off is the Indian bulit LCA aircraft.It has the greatest manouverability off all the air combat aircrafts on earth.Light weight makes it better with 0g revolutions.here is the pic:

and the above so called 'flying bike' is a sorry example of a small PLane with zero manouverability and short speeds.Needless to say it remain a dream cream project as investors wont find it profitable with any price tags.

A flying bike should have bat wings that is wings that retract depending upon altitude and pressure of centrifgal forces.It should hover around like a Helichopper by using under thrust.I dont see them here anywher.

I would anytime put down my money on a civil version of the very much Indian LCA rather than this stupid BIKE plane.

Samarth 619 · 12-13-2008, 01:23 PM

@ MACH50: It's just a concept, meaning that improvements will be made still. Hope the things you mentioned get included. But somehow, I have an intuition that it will never make it to Production... Obviously, it won't!

But, since a concept is meant to be enjoyed, I love it!

harshaguduru · 12-13-2008, 02:36 PM

OT:
a guy with the tomahawk as a profile pic commenting on the un-practicalness(pardon my english) of the bike/plane thats funny...

12-12-2008, 05:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
Old Fox Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Noida Posts: 669	Flying motorcycle!!! Check out this new concept by the US based Samson Motorworks (web-site link here) They call it the Skybike. As an Areonautical Engineer by education and a motorcyclist by passion (no not the HH made Passion), I could hardly resist posting this. The specs read as below (taken from their web-site). They are presently using existing motorcycle engines. Plan to go in for a worked upon Wankel rotary later. Samson Motorworks Skybike The SkyBike™ is the kit-built flying version of the vehicle, and the first to be unveiled. Providing what man has been dreaming of for decades, this vehicle is designed to deliver exciting acceleration and handling on the ground, as well as comfortable and reliable flight capability. The flat-panel instrument display changes automatically from flight instruments to ground instruments. Ready for any country with a door on each side of the driver, ready for any weather with the ability to drive or fly, ready for any emergency with the ability to take off from any flat surface and land on any flat surface. It is quick enough for the fast lane, legal in the carpool lane, and sexy enough for the red carpet. Meet the SkyBike™. Preliminary Specifications:  Estimated MGTOW = 1340 LB (Maximum Gross Take-off Weight)  LENGTH = 15’- 6”  WIDTH = 6’- 4”  HEIGHT = 4’-1”  SEATS = 2  MAXIMUM SPEED = 95 mph on wheels, 140 mph flying  RANGE = 500 miles ground, 220 miles air  MPG = Estimated 55 mpg ground, 25 mpg air  WINGSPAN = 19’ – 5” main, 6’- 4” canard  WING AREA = 88 S.F.  WING LOADING = 15 psf  ENGINE = 120-180 hp motorcycle engine (three choices)  ESTIMATED TBO = 2,000 hours (Time Between Major Overhauls)  FUEL = regular unleaded automobile gasoline  FUEL CAPACITY = 10.1 gallons including reserve  STALL SPEED = 55 mph STANDARD FEATURES = Driver adjustable seat, five or six speed transmission with forward, neutral, reverse, and flight mode, lexan front windshield and side windows, heating & air conditioning, stereo cd player, California emissions compliant, seat belt / safety harness, front and rear disc brakes, anti-lock brake system, video rear view monitor, flexible electronic instrument main panel – switches from air to ground instruments automatically, GPS moving map with VOR navigation capability, automatic vehicle leaning in turns, extendable wings, dual ground/air lighting system, redundant ignition system, ELT (emergency location transmitter), back-up air speed, attitude and altimeter, ballistic chute recovery system. I found reading through the FAQ on the web-site pretty entertaining. Here is one gem: Aren’t motorcycles more dangerous to drive on the roads than cars? Motorcycles give more freedom of control, are faster to react, and bring the outside world closer to you as you drive past. For many, their exhilaration provided by the mode of transportation, with the nimble handling and the ability to lean through turns, outweighs the fact that there is less (or nothing) to protect you in an accident. In a typical motorcycle, your protection is what you wear, (leather, helmet) and your ability to react much faster than other vehicles can. The main problem is the apparent invisibility of a motorcycle to surrounding drivers. In the SkyBike, nimble handling common to motorcycles significantly remains, as does the ability to lean into turns. The visibility of the SkyBike to other drivers is significantly increased over that of a motorcycle. Personally, I like the concept though have my own mis-givings about its actual practicality> Technically, a wing-loading as low as 15 pounds to a square foot would make for a very twitchy airplane. Would need only the calmest of days to use it. Sends an Indian motorcyclists' imagination soaring though. Fly over the muck that litters our national highways and land somewhere close to the hills. Wow! straight to the twisties Open your hearts and minds to a motorcycle that actually flies (low) Old Fox __________________ I don't let my motorcycles interfere with my motorcycling... Join xBhp On

12-12-2008, 05:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
Aryan Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New Delhi/ Shillong Posts: 18,274	News Approved. Would really help, atleast during the rush hours! __________________ ...in search of that perfect world - My Travel Blog :)

12-12-2008, 05:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
Joel Race Concepts Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,844	Awesome stuff. When I ride, I always wonder if there is any way we can make the bike literally fly, here it is . __________________ joel@raceconcepts.in

12-12-2008, 05:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
Old Fox Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Noida Posts: 669	Wish everything in life was granted as fast as Aryan's approval of this thread! Thanks. Yes Joel, and start thinking of ways to upgrade this 'superbike's' performance. It'll literally give you a 'high'! __________________ I don't let my motorcycles interfere with my motorcycling... Join xBhp On

12-13-2008, 12:51 AM	#5 (permalink)
george katie stepUp Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 80	Like in the movie Transformers, once you are on the road for sometime and the rush picks up...stretch out the wings and zoom fly away like a ...bird, swft, jet maybe a place or whatever...lol Serious Concept for the Future... __________________ long live xbhp

12-13-2008, 03:50 AM	#6 (permalink)
tazz Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 146	Hey cool its a twin seater, i can carry a air hostess with me when i fly in one of those on a serious note you will be pulled over on the roads and god know what kind of papers you must have to drive/fly one of those. Also flying license would be needed i guess.

12-13-2008, 07:07 AM	#7 (permalink)
ken cool Super Moderator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: New Delhi Posts: 4,677	The aeronautical engineer cometh! If this comes along, we will need the services of Old Fox to develop and fit aftermarket wings to accommodate cornering, performance fuselage and double bubble nose... you will have busy days ahead! __________________ The Wheel was a great invention; Two Wheels with a Motor in between was even better! BMW Motorrad Days 2011 Xbhp's Indo-French Kashmir-Ladakh Tour

12-13-2008, 11:34 AM	#8 (permalink)
MACH50 ETERNAL SPEED Join Date: May 2004 Location: KOLKATA, West bengal, India. Posts: 1,944	ekdum bakwas design hai. motorcycles are great due to their high order of manouverability and this "PLANE" does not look so.Better off is the Indian bulit LCA aircraft.It has the greatest manouverability off all the air combat aircrafts on earth.Light weight makes it better with 0g revolutions.here is the pic: and the above so called 'flying bike' is a sorry example of a small PLane with zero manouverability and short speeds.Needless to say it remain a dream cream project as investors wont find it profitable with any price tags. A flying bike should have bat wings that is wings that retract depending upon altitude and pressure of centrifgal forces.It should hover around like a Helichopper by using under thrust.I dont see them here anywher. I would anytime put down my money on a civil version of the very much Indian LCA rather than this stupid BIKE plane. __________________ Hell's Angel Last edited by MACH50; 12-13-2008 at 11:37 AM.

12-13-2008, 01:23 PM	#9 (permalink)
Samarth 619 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Rajasthan Posts: 2,801	@ MACH50: It's just a concept, meaning that improvements will be made still. Hope the things you mentioned get included. But somehow, I have an intuition that it will never make it to Production... Obviously, it won't! But, since a concept is meant to be enjoyed, I love it!

12-13-2008, 02:36 PM	#10 (permalink)
harshaguduru Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 342	OT: a guy with the tomahawk as a profile pic commenting on the un-practicalness(pardon my english) of the bike/plane thats funny...

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