Alternative Transportation
Yesterday’s SFGate: Day in Pictures inspired a few delvings into alternative transportation methods that are not the Segway.
A gyroplane was named one of Time Magazine’s Inventions of the Year in 2001. It looks like a helicopter, but on closer inspection you notice the extra propeller which, on the Groen Brothers Aviation model is gas turbinepowered. Fixed-wing craft training is recommended before flying one as it navigates similarly in the air. Other models, mostly for sport, are available as evidenced by this Popular Mechanics write-up. The unfortunate gyroplane referenced in the SFGate photo was an experimental model which lost a part, killing pilot and passenger.
The Airboard, inspired by Back to the Future II and developed in a Australia, is an honest to goodness hovercraft. It runs off a gas-powered lawn mower engine with a 1.3 gallon tank, maximum speed is 15 MPH. It is available in the U.S. through ZAP Electronics and, wouldn’t you know it, Hammacher Schlemmer. Price is $14,999.95 with disclaimers “Not for use on public streets, sidewalks, and thoroughfares.” But you do get a choice of Red, Blue, Green, or Yellow.
TechTV reviewed it with a summary of “extremely pricey and cumbersome.” Hammacher Schlemmer also has a 2 person all-terrain hovercraft.