***If it was not complex, it would have been done by now, by someone much
more brilliant than you and me.

I understand the point you're making, but I'm an optimist.
It doesn't take a genious to be an entrepreneur (thank goodness), otherwise
there would be a lot fewer businesses!
There are all kinds of high-tech approaches out there (as have been pointed
out to me).
While admirable, they may be making the problem (my specific application)
more complicated than it needs to be.


I propose a simple airframe, like a C-152, or heck, even a mini-MAX, whose
wings come off quickly.
For ground transportation, remove the wings, and add a cage around the prop
(like on powered parachutes).
Add some turn signals, brake lights, etc, and that's it.
Nothing more.
What more do you need?
Then you just taxi it.
It doesn't need to go on the freeway, just surface streets.



No flames from me, but the problems are great, and the solutions are few.
In a world of building airplanes, you work to save ounces, and all the
things needed for your idea adds tens and fifties of pounds, for each
extra
item needed.


For the added weight, is the solution as simple as adding power?
In the example I listed above, couldn't you put a 200HP engine (as an
example) onto the smaller airframe to make up for any added weight?



A plane is said to be a system of compromises, flying in loose formation.
When you add all the extra stuff needed for an airplane car, it is way
*too
* much of a compromise, and likely not be a good airplane, or car.
--
Jim in NC


Again, I don't think (at first), the design needs to be particularly good at
either flying or driving.
Proof of concept is all I would be looking for initially.
If it flew reasonably well for short commuter trips, and was able to
negotiate the surface streets, that would be great.

I bet more than one reader of this group (maybe the homebuilt group) could
hack something together in no time.
It would then be reasonably easy to get it certified as experimental.
What about certified to drive on the road?
Keep in mind the golf carts that are road legal...

Adam
N7966L
Beech Super III