# Flying Scooter! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 20, 2005, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-scooter/336455 "2005-12-20T15:00:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-scooter/336455/1 "2005-12-20T15:00:37Z")
[http://ultralightflyingscooter.com/](http://ultralightflyingscooter.com/) For anyone wondering what present to get me this year, look no further. šŸ†’ ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-scooter/336455/2 "2005-12-20T15:06:47Z")
That thing looks like it sucks, to me. This is just a flying parachute with a scooter attached. What value does the scooter offer? It looks like it would be terrifying to sit on a scooter at several thousand feet rather than sitting in a nice snug seat in a harness. The scooter adds weight, reduces performance, and looks stupid. My first thought was that this was a joke page. I simply donā€™t get the point. Youā€™re essentially replacing a 20 lb chair with a heavy scooter for no reason I can fathom. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-scooter/336455/3 "2005-12-20T15:09:11Z")
Are you _sure_ that this aint a con? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-scooter/336455/4 "2005-12-20T15:41:59Z")
Iā€™ll stick with my hoverboards, thanksā€¦ :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-scooter/336455/5 "2005-12-20T16:13:32Z")
Oh, you are all such spoilsports! I love it! ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-scooter/336455/6 "2005-12-20T18:45:12Z")
Sign me up. We can fly over their houses with water balloons. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-scooter/336455/7 "2005-12-20T19:56:27Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > What value does the scooter offer? Youā€™re essentially replacing a 20 lb chair with a heavy scooter for no reason I can fathom. The same function that has had inventors working on flying cars since the dawn of aviation. The scooter gets you between where you are and a suitable landing or take-off field. Your also not completely stuck if the weather is unsuatable for flying. In the 1940-50ā€™s Cessna and Piper had the idea that theyā€™d make airplanes for ordinary joesā€¦every family had a car, so every family should have an airplane. The problem is that at most GA airports there is no public transportation, and no way to rent a car. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-scooter/336455/8 "2005-12-20T20:12:45Z")
Ever since _The World is Not Enough,_ Iā€™d assumed these things were generally available. Just not with so many rockets and hand grenades and such. ---
**Author:** ![Cranky\_Hermit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Cranky\_Hermit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cranky_Hermit)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-scooter/336455/9 "2005-12-20T21:04:33Z")
Sign me up, too! I WANT ONE! My brothers would be SOOO jealous! ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-scooter/336455/10 "2005-12-20T21:35:14Z")
> [@Cranky Hermit](#): > > My brothers would be SOOO jealous! Jealous, hell! Imagine how they will tremble when you fly over with water balloons. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-scooter/336455/11 "2005-12-20T21:45:26Z")
> [@Kevbo](#): > > The problem is that at most GA airports there is no public transportation, and no way to rent a car. Chicken, meet Egg. Egg, meet Chicken. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Elk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Anne\_Elk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Elk)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-scooter/336455/12 "2005-12-20T22:48:32Z")
A slightly greener version, a pedal powered recumbent tricycle. To get in the air, however, a 30 horsepower motor is required. [http://www.para-cycle.com/gallery/flight001.htm](http://www.para-cycle.com/gallery/flight001.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-scooter/336455/13 "2005-12-20T23:11:30Z")
All that dough put into R&D, and they couldnā€™t spring for a fricking tripod for the camera? I have a nice headache now from the camera shake in that landing video. I still want one, though. They built a massive parking lot at my job that no one ever usesā€¦itā€™d make for a nice landing strip. Iā€™ll take cutting my commute from an hour down to 15 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-scooter/336455/14 "2005-12-21T00:14:36Z")
> [@Hal Briston](#): > > All that dough put into R&D, and they couldnā€™t spring for a fricking tripod for the camera? That was from the box kite chase plane. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-scooter/336455/15 "2005-12-21T09:41:53Z")
> [@Anne Elk](#): > > A slightly greener version, a pedal powered recumbent tricycle. To get in the air, however, a 30 horsepower motor is required. > > [http://www.para-cycle.com/gallery/flight001.htm](http://www.para-cycle.com/gallery/flight001.htm) Forget the flying scooter. I want one of those. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-scooter/336455/16 "2005-12-21T11:36:04Z")
> [@Kevbo](#): > > The problem is that at most GA airports there is no public transportation, and no way to rent a car. We must fly out of different GA airports, then. Then thereā€™s the whole ā€œcourtesy carā€ thing, which Iā€™ve found available even where there arenā€™t rentals. OK, my first question about this is ā€œwhereā€™s the freakinā€™ seat beltā€? I fly ultralights and open cockpit airplanes (yes, I spent allllllllllll that time and alllllllllllll that money to get a pilotā€™s license) and Iā€™m quite comfortable hanging out in the windstream at several thousand feet. You ainā€™t gettinā€™ me on that ā€œflying scooterā€ without a seatbelt. Why? Itā€™s a looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong way down to the very, very, very hard ground. Iā€™m sure I could get 2 or 3 good, hearty screams in before impact. Thatā€™s not the way I want to shuffle off the mortol coil, thank you very much. 2 gallon flight tank? Thatā€™s not going to leave you much flight time. I notice they coyly did not list fuel burn per hour while in flight. Youā€™ll either have to stop often or carry extra gas as baggage - which can be hazardous. I should also point out that with a 220 lbs maximum payload, and 210 lbs max for the pilot, and gas at 6 lbs/gallon, a 210 lbs pilot will blow the max payload if he tops off the tank. Granted itā€™s only by 2 lbs and thing will still fly, but itā€™s generally not a good idea to exceed manufacturersā€™ recommendations. _ā€œA well running and adjusted engine on an Ultralight Scooter Aircraft should achieve a minimum of 300 ft per minute climb rate when fully loaded at sea level and 80 degrees F.ā€_ ā€“ Please note, if you are above sea level you will get less climb per minute than this. May I remind you that most folks _do_ live above sea level. Also, 300/fpm is a pretty lame climb. Also, in order to get maximum climb or maximum glide out of an aircraft requires some practice and skill. The average Joe strapping into this thing (where _are_ those seat beltsā€¦?) is not going to achieve those numbers the first dozen or fifty times he tries it. Tuned exhaust? Get ready for noise complaints. If you put a muffler on it youā€™ll reduce the available power, that is, youā€™ll get a less than 300 fpm climb and reduce your cruise speed. If you fly this under FAR Part 103 you will be restricted not only to airports without control towers (no big deal - thatā€™s mostly what I fly out of by choice) but you will also be barred flying in the _vicinity_ of airports with control towers, over towns, and so forth. How do you carry the parasail when driving around on the road? Folded up, sure, but in a saddlebag? Strapped to your head? How? Frankly, Iā€™d forget the scooter and just buy the parasail. But thatā€™s me. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-scooter/336455/17 "2005-12-21T17:47:04Z")
**Adds Broomstickā€™s house to his list of water-balloon targets** ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-scooter/336455/18 "2005-12-21T19:53:38Z")
Oh please Santa! Iā€™ve been ever so good! ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-scooter/336455/19 "2005-12-22T01:43:53Z")
> [@jackelope](#): > > **Adds Broomstickā€™s house to his list of water-balloon targets** If you happen to look up while dropping those water balloons youā€™ll see meā€¦ looking down on youā€¦ just before the mischief hits - bwa-HA-HA-HA-HA! šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-scooter/336455/20 "2005-12-22T02:01:58Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > If you happen to look up while dropping those water balloons youā€™ll see meā€¦ looking down on youā€¦ just before the mischief hits - bwa-HA-HA-HA-HA! > > šŸ˜ƒ Youā€™ll be parachuting and we will be under powered flight. 300ā€™ a minute _is_ faster than you can climb, right? šŸ™‚ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-scooter/336455.md?page=2)