NASA Designs All-Electric Personal Flight Vehicle 276
MikeChino writes "NASA is currently working on a personal aircraft that will put jet packs to shame. The Puffin is an all-electric one-man airplane that could be the start of some new and amazing air travel technology. With two prop electric engines, lithium phosphate batteries and a top speed of almost 300 mph, the vertical take off and landing vehicle was originally designed for covert military insertions because it has a lower heat signature than combustion engines. The Puffin would also be super quiet – 10 times quieter than current low-noise helicopters, and since the engine is electric it has no flight ceiling and can fly up to 9,150 meters high, uninhibited by thin air."
psst, NASA, just one little thing. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:"No flight ceiling" (Score:5, Funny)
That was my personal favorite quote.
It has no flight ceiling... so it could go up to about 9,150 meters
Re: Is Elmer Gantry Available? (Score:2, Funny)
Exceptions for lawyers, politicians, and SCO employees.
Thank you, Google! (Score:5, Funny)
PSA: don't blindly search Google if you want to find out what a "three-holer" is - I don't think any of the top hits are what he's referring to.
Re:My question is.. (Score:3, Funny)
"Puffin Man" doesn't have quite the same ring to it though, compared to the names of other super hero's...
I see... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:"No flight ceiling" (Score:3, Funny)
As for ultimate limits, the difference between stalling and breaking the sound barrier was about 50 knots for the U2 flights. That may have been plus or minus 50', but I think it was actually +/-25. Memory fails. Anyway, 68K feet is a *seriously* nerve-wracking place to fly if your airplane can't do Mach.
It was +/- 5 knots. Luckily at that altitude, there are no gusts.
Re:"No flight ceiling" (Score:4, Funny)
Yeah. To correct the GP:
Justin.
Re:Capt. 'Cannonballs' Kittinger (Score:4, Funny)
I found my minimum altitude for releasing my chute was approximately 385 feet, but it hurt! (we were advised that the minimum altitude was 500 feet...I had to test this)
So are you still chasing that Darwin Award, or have you given up ;-)