Buy the Moller Skycar on eBay !!!!!

[A Squared]

That's right, you can own the aircraft of the future.

From AvWeb:

Moller Skycar For Sale

Paul Moller finally has his Skycar for sale but don't expect the skies and carports of the nation to fill up with them anytime soon. The brains behind what could be the longest-lived aircraft development program in history is selling the original prototype of the vehicle on eBay. We couldn't find a listing on Sunday. He's expecting to get $4 million. The prototype has slipped the surly bonds on its own power in an unmanned, tethered flight. But anyone hoping to use it for the morning commute is likely to be disappointed. "Potential buyers are cautioned that this is a prototype model and considered an experimental aircraft," says a Moller news release. "It has not obtained FAA certification and is subject to significant flight restrictions until approved. Further, the Skycar has not yet been approved as a road vehicle." Moller says the prototype is being fitted with more powerful twin-rotor engines that would allow manned, untethered flight. The company claims on-board computers will eventually do most of the flying for the pilot. The company is planning one last media splash for the prototype. A manned, untethered flight will be done in front of 1,000 reporters and then the lucky new owner can take it home. Date of the media flight was not announced (we want to be there).

Yeah...."significant flight restrictions", as in: the only thing the Skycar has ever been able to do is hover a few feet above a parking lot. But hey, that ought to be worth $4 million, right?

It's the latest chapter in one of the longest running frauds in aviation. I took a look on eBay this morening, and couldn't find it listed, even though the press release said the auction would start this morning at 0900 PDT.

 

[A Squared]

I guess it is on eBay after all:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/M400...015QQitemZ250036057352QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW


Starting bid is a Million dollars. THere's optimism for you. A million bucks for something that really doesn't do much, and is a prototype of something that will never exist.

 

[mzaharis]

I guess it is on eBay after all:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/M400...015QQitemZ250036057352QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW


Starting bid is a Million dollars. THere's optimism for you. A million bucks for something that really doesn't do much, and is a prototype of something that will never exist.

Well, here's a guy who's bilked investors out of 200 mil over 40 years without delivering a product. What's a few million on E-bay, more or less?

Given the permanent SEC injunction on Moller, maybe this is the only way he can raise money.

 

[CrimsonEclipse]

Well, here's a guy who's bilked investors out of 200 mil over 40 years without delivering a product. What's a few million on E-bay, more or less?

Given the permanent SEC injunction on Moller, maybe this is the only way he can raise money.

Securities and Exchange Comission?

Why? (link please)

CE

 

[A Squared]

Securities and Exchange Comission?

Why? (link please)

CE

Yeah, they nailed him for misrepresenting a some sort of securities offering. Imagine, Paul Moller misrepresenting something? Who'd a guessed?

 

[Lilah]

It seems like it might be a fair deal if they'd fly it to the destination of my choice in the US. Heck, I'd even pay for the fuel.

Lilah

 

[Lilah]

Hey if it works out, I can race it against my 50,000' capable, 400 kt. Carter Copter!

 

[mzaharis]

Securities and Exchange Comission?

Why? (link please)

CE

http://www.sec.gov/litigation/litreleases/lr17987.htm

Also discussed on the Wikipedia entry on the Moller Skycar. The 200 million number is from Mythbusters, which is not exactly a news show, so take it for what it's worth. The SEC charges 5.1 million in funds related to the fraud complaint, although this is only the latest in Moller's 40 years of tinkering with other peoples' money.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moller_Skycar

 

[navigator72]

If it ever becomes a reality, that Moller car will be worth millions. Buy it and flip it in a few years and make a good profit.

 

[CrimsonEclipse]

Mzaharis and Asquared
Thanks!
:beer:

I did not know of the darker side of the car and designer.

CE

 

[JimNtexas]

I had thought that it had a human pilot when it made that tethered flight. Now I read on Ebay that it has never flown with a human onboard.

But that's just around the corner. Yeah...sure.

 

[mzaharis]

Mzaharis and Asquared
Thanks!
:beer:

I did not know of the darker side of the car and designer.

CE

Please don't consider me the kind of person who denigrates the efforts of maverick engineers (I like Burt Rutan as much as the next guy :beer: ), but this guy appears to me not to be the real thing.

 

[propsarebest]

Now, he is a land developer...

http://www.milkfarm.net/

 

[A Squared]

Please don't consider me the kind of person who denigrates the efforts of maverick engineers (I like Burt Rutan as much as the next guy :beer: ), but this guy appears to me not to be the real thing.

Yeah, I'm a bug adnmirer of Rutan also. The obvious distinction is that Rutan does what he says he's roing to do, repeatedly. Moller's been "developing" for 40 years and he hasn't accomplished anything but a hover, and he first accomplished that almost 40 years ago ...so 4 decades and no real progress.

 

[QuasarZ]

pretty good gas guzzler... 80/hr

 

[cynic]

Do you think he would take a prototype of the one million dollar bill I plan to earn in the future.

 

[JimNtexas]

Yeah, I'm a bug adnmirer of Rutan also. The obvious distinction is that Rutan does what he says he's roing to do, repeatedly.

Rutan does things and then talks about them.

 

[gfvalvo]

pretty good gas guzzler... 80/hr

That's what I don't get. Even with the promised bigger engines, this thing won't make a very good aircraft, nor a very good car. And it will use more fuel than both of them combined. Plus if you do manage to run out of fuel I imagine you'd be in more trouble than in either an airplane or a chopper.

So, what's the business plan? Sell it to the handful of rich guys who think it's cool? Boy, I'm ready to invest.

 

[A Squared]

That's what I don't get. Even with the promised bigger engines, this thing won't make a very good aircraft, nor a very good car. And it will use more fuel than both of them combined. Plus if you do manage to run out of fuel I imagine you'd be in more trouble than in either an airplane or a chopper.

pretty good gas guzzler... 80/hr

Not that I'm suggesting that the "performance specs" are anything but fantasy, but going on those, it's a he11 of a machine. http://www.moller.com/skycar/m400/

275 mph for 750 miles is nothing to sneeze at for personal transportation, compared to say a 182. And according to that page it would be more economical than a 182. 20 mpg at 275 mph is about 14 gal/hr.

If it *could* do what he says, it would be great. I'm a little skeptical though.

Where'd you get the 80 gal/hr number?

 

[VNugget]

"Never" is a really strong word. Imagine the things that people 50 years ago, or 100, or 150 years ago couldn't possibly imagine that are routine today.