Flying Motorcycle

[cosworth151]

This could make me trade in my VW trike. The latest attempt at a roadable airplane - The SkyBike!

Samson Motorworks claims it has the utmost in roadable aircraft with its new SkyBike. The SkyBike is a three-wheeled, two-seat motorcycle with a telescoping main wing and a canard. Powered by a shrouded single propeller driven by a rotary engine, the vehicle will supposedly fly at 130 mph–although it hasn’t flown yet.

The company is developing several models of the vehicle. The SkyBike is the kitbuilt version and due out first, although exactly when isn’t clear. The SwitchBlade will be the FAA-certified version. A hybrid unit is also planned.

The idea is that you drive the vehicle like a motorcycle to the airport. There, you extend the telescoping wings and takeoff. At takeoff, the flat panel instrument display transitions from automotive instruments to aviation instruments.

SkyBike is the brainchild of inventor Sam Bousfield. He claims the canard layout, with main wing in the back, serves a dual purpose. For safe ground design and to reduce the potential for overturning, the center of weight is kept low and to the rear. Having a main rear wing places most of the lift where the majority of the weight is located, complimenting safety on the ground with safety in the air. Additionally, a canard is also stall-resistant, affording an added margin of protection.

The company offers an email newsletter through its site for those who want to follow the project throughout development.

http://www.samsonmotorworks.com/

[Dare]

The sentence it hasn't actually flown yet
concerns me just a tad

[Steven Roy]

I love the idea of telescopic wings.  That has always been one of the fundamental problems with a fly/drive vehicle - what do you do with the wings on the road?

[cosworth151]

I just wonder where the control surfaces are. I also note that there is no vertical stabilizer or rudder.

[John S]

There does appear to be areas marked to be flaps on the front wings, but it's hard to grasp the concept of a larger wing at the back in low speed aircraft. We are quite used to high speed jets with that wing configuration, i.e. small front larger rear wing, but even they have an upright tail.