Roadable Aircraft ... What about this?

The exposed bike and rider are going to create considerable drag. To
get to reasonable cruise speeds - I'm guessing 100-120 mph or so, to be
enough faster than a bike to make it worthwhile - it's going to take a
bigger engine than you think.

It's going to be difficult to adequately belt the pilot down (in?) if
he's sitting on a bike.

No IFR, of course, no space for a panel

Dealing with 100+ mph wind blast for an extended period is going to be
taxing.

No reason you can't have a conventional side stick for aileron and
elevator. Yes, you have enough degrees of freedom in handlebars, 2
twist grips and 2 grip levers. But it would mean a lot of training to
unlearn regular aircraft controls.

It comes down to defining your mission. If your goal is to ride your
motorcycle through the air, you may have a reasonable answer. If it's
to fly somewhere with your motorcycle, I'd lean toward a more
conventional airplane that can hoist or ramp a motorcycle inside, and
unload at the other end.

"Richard Riley" wrote in message
oups.com...
Snip-------


If it's
to fly somewhere with your motorcycle, I'd lean toward a more
conventional airplane that can hoist or ramp a motorcycle inside, and
unload at the other end.


A single engine airplane specifically designed to haul a medium weight
motorcycle at good cruise speeds seems a very worthwhile thing. I wonder
why someone hasn't done it.

Bill Daniels

I seem to recall a homebuilt that didn't succeed in the market. 4
landing gear, V8 engine, swing away tail, fuselage made to haul 1000
pounds of 4x8 plywood. Not ideal for this mission, but a good start.
Can't remember the name.

Or, there's this - http://www.coastcomp.com/av/fltline2/avion.htm

On 8 Mar 2006 17:22:52 -0800, "Richard Riley" wrote:

I seem to recall a homebuilt that didn't succeed in the market. 4
landing gear, V8 engine, swing away tail, fuselage made to haul 1000
pounds of 4x8 plywood. Not ideal for this mission, but a good start.
Can't remember the name.

O'Neill Magnum.

And you a fellow Irishman.... :-)

Ron Wanttaja

Well, you know what all that whisky does to one's memory.... But I
think that's the one.

("Ron Wanttaja" wrote)
O'Neill Magnum.


Not much info...
http://www.aerofiles.com/_o.html
Scroll down to O'Neil


MontblackIrish

("Montblack" wrote)
Not much info...
http://www.aerofiles.com/_o.html
Scroll down to O'Neil


I just noticed something on this page:
http://www.aerofiles.com/_o.html

The bottom of the page is clever and, and, and ...kind of cute

....in a manly airplane kind of way. :-)


Montblack
Hadn't seen that design employed before.