Moller M400 Skycar

[nigelb]

It is not British and it certainly isn't classic but it is a lot of fun! In fact it is the best VTOL aircraft I have found to date. It is great for sightseeing and I found it easy to handle.

It is available at Avsim and all nodes. At Avsim the file is rcbsc1-9.zip. Here is the description:

"This package contains a simulation of the Moller M400 Skycar, and was developped in close coöperation with the Moller company. Apart from it being fun to fly, it gives you an impression of how the real M400 Skycar will look like and behave. Besides all the usual animations you find in an aircraft addon, it contains a wealth of features and animations specific for this M400 Skycar, like: - Automated nacelles, ductvanes and folding wings. - True VTOL operation. - Full VirtualCockpit, with moving sidesticks, throttle lever and all needed instruments/switches to drive/fly this Skycar. Besides some general information on Moller's M400 Skycar, the README includes extensive installation and flying instructions. This package is for FS9 ONLY !!!! An FSX version will be made available later. By Rob Barendregt and Stephen Vernava "

I am sure many of you guys will recognize the name Rob Barendregt. He is the author of many guages incuding the Pushback gauge and numerous others.

[blanston12]

The Skycar should probably be included in the list of fictional aircraft. Besides one tethered hover test its never flown, its been 5 years from world domination for about 30 years now. I hope they finally get a working vehicle but after reading so many promises over the years I don't believe it any more.

I have not tested this model and have not reason to question its quality.

[bigred1970]

I seriously doubt this will ever get off the ground, I have looked at the specs. 8! engines! uh and rotary at that, there is a reason that they try to limit the number of engines in a plane. I don't even want to think what the cost for overhauling all of them is.

a better idea would be something like the osprey but with the engines mounted like helecoptors with shafts runing to tiltable ducted fans/annulear wings. with a tail mounted fan to control pitch, instead of yaw like a helecoptor. :think: the main fans could handle yaw in hover mode.

[nigelb]

I doubt it will ever get off the ground also, but you never know. With increased traffic congestion on the roads and (in Virginia at least) lack of funding for new roads, not to mention the environmental concerns, you have to wonder if at some distant date the idea might be viable. Of course there would be a whole new set of problems if many of Moller's Skycar start buzzing around the airways. There are plenty of idiots on the road, can you imagine if they took to the air?

All that aside, I found it a lot of fun in FS - a complete change of pace. Since you can also drive it like a car, it is interesting to follow some of the roads in FS and inspect the scenery.