exotic unobtainium alloys

I laughed out loud when I read that.

there are a lot of numbers that don't add up here.

I read through your numbers, and I see your point. I was skeptical of the aircar, too, when I first read about it, but I didn't have any numbers to base my skepticism on. I wonder if anyone has pointed out this particular Emporer's nakedness to its investors?

One thing, though:

Since the aiframe lacks wings or other lifting surfaces, the lift/drag ratio is going to be ridiculous.

I was under the impression that it would be a sort of a lifting-body design. That at full forward thrust, there would be a decent amount of lift generated by the whole thing. I'm no aerospace engineer, though, so I don't know.

--Tony smacks his forehead--

D'oh! I've just encouraged Doug's number-crunching again. Bad! Bad!

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Tony Fabris