Running a ducted fan at Mach 0.8 is bound to be noisy.
Rich Strong
www.strongware.com/dragon <http://www.strongware.com/dragon>

I met Rich at the SAE meeting and he has come up with a practical
idea for a roadable car. I liked it so much I spent some time on
a suggested structural design. LaBeche is copying the idea more or less
except they are using a pusher prop.

Here is what I have so far. This is where the PAV money should go instead
of paying it out to C172 and RV4 owners that don't need it :)


Paul Lamar ...No rotor no motor.

That vehicle might actually work.  You might want to look at the folding
wing mechanism that was used on the Grumman Wildcat, though, it works very
well.

Steve Brazil

There is no law against a really big motor cycle. I don't think
you need to fold the main wings. Two wing pivots like the F14 should do it.
Two eleven foot long wing panels and a 5.6 foot wide center section
should do it. Total span is 27.6 feet. About the same as an RV. If the root
cord is 4 feet that gives you a legal 8 foot wide road vehicle.
You may still need to fold the horizontal tail but I think 8 foot span
may be enough if the tail boom is long enough which it appears to be.
Folding mechanisms are heavy.

This is a very doable flying car but the performance in the air will
be modest due to the ducted fan. (Not shown yet.)