Backcountry Pilot

[Terry offline]

A friend took this picture on Interstate 5 south of Portland, Oregon.


Their website
http://planedriven.com/

[courierguy offline]

Ingenious, but a lot of extra parts and work, plus not to mention the added risk. At some point the hassle may out weigh the benefits?. I'd rather fly it then drive it.

[d.grimm offline]

The tip of the prop doesn't look to good now!
Dave

[58Skylane offline]

That rest area looked familiar. I-5 and the Santiam River?

I'm thinking a lot of road vibration will work some parts lose? Neat concept, though.

[M6RV6 offline]

Would be interested in the folding horizontal, wouldn't have to pull it off to put on a trailer!!
GT

[bart offline]

Could those be the elusive bushwheelpants?????

[29singlespeed offline]

This sportsman was at oshkosh this year, would drive away every evening. Lots to remove/store before flying way. cool concept none-the less

[182 STOL driver offline]

I looked at there web site video of it on highway but none flying . Suspect only one copy airplane ,not a bad idea for back half motorcycle but how do you turn ?. Where do you carry "half motorcycle " on long trip ? I could see using it to get your airplane to and from house to (and back) airport. Novel idea could be applied to other aircraft --- call it a airplane transporter with Honda 250 assist .

[hotrod180 offline]

You can go to the planedriven.com website & watch the video.
Personally I don't get it. Is this so A) you can keep the airplane at home & drive it to the airport where you convert it back into flying shape, B) To drive home when the weather grounds you, C) To drive around & get surprised looks from everyone, or D) all of the above?
I'm sure it's more airworthy than any of the goofy "flying cars" I've seen. But going 55 or 60 down the freeway on tailwheel gear looks to me like a groundloop waiting to happen. I didn't see the tailwheel/motorcycle turning, so does that thing have steerable mains?
Looks to me like yet another solution in search of a problem. If it's about taking an airplane down the road (to an airstrip or wherever), it seems to me like a trailer behind a skookum truck is a better way to go. BTW one of my hangar neighbors just bought a brand spanking new 16' double axle flat trailer at a place near Chehalis WA for like $3K. He told me he'd seen used beaters around for sale for more. A couple feet too short for my airplane, but would probably work for a Pacer or something similar. An 18 footer would do the trick nicely for mine.

[ReportLeftBase offline]

Suspect only one copy airplane ,not a bad idea for back half motorcycle but how do you turn ?.

The front wheels are steerable: http://planedriven.com/faq/#kit-4

[GroundLooper offline]

It's a nice concept. Of all the roadable airplanes this one fits a lot closer to the "affordable" category if they can sell it for close to what they are currently claiming.

How useful it is, may depend on how much useful load it has.

[182 STOL driver offline]

Suspect only one copy airplane ,not a bad idea for back half motorcycle but how do you turn ?.

The front wheels are steerable: http://planedriven.com/faq/#kit-4

Looked at there price on FAQ -$60,000 I hope this includes airplane ready to fly !