Burt Rutan's last...hmmm...errrr....vehicle

[Dr Mordrid]

Burt Rutan; one of the greatest aeronautical engineers og the 20th and 21st centuries, pioneered the use of composites in air & space craft, was behind the aeroshells of many aircraft built by Boeing, Northrop Grumman etc., X-planes, cars and even satellite launchers. Also known for exotic designs, I don't think he ever built a plane that didn't draw stares and WTF?'s as soon as it rolled out.

Meet the BiPod - Burts idea of a driveable airplane, or flyable car, or ????

Built as a final project before his retirement so a new group of young Scaled Composites engineers would get a shot at working with the Master, BiPod is a series hybrid like Volt. It has two 450cc range extender gas engines, electric motors, LiIon batteries etc. Range @200mph is 530 miles, and @100mph its 760 miles. On the road it goes 820 miles at freeway speeds.

[VJ]

While I'm generally a fan of Burt Rutan (and his out of the box thinking), I don't really like this design...

Room for two people, but they are each in their own cocoon. Even though you don't really touch while driving or flying, and already speak via microphone and headset while flying, I imagine it to feel odd in this configuration. Furthermore, one side controls the driving, whereas the other controls the flying. This is also an odd choice: this would mean that if I were to take a passenger, we'd have to swap seats...

It is amazing how he manages to store the wings so neatly, but I just think it is an odd form factor...

[Dr Mordrid]

I think it was more intended to stimulatecoutside the box thinking in one more generation than to be "practical" - mold those mushy brains to Scaleds free thinking culture while they're pliable.

[TransformX]

Where's the propulsion system for the flight?

[cjolley]

Where's the propulsion system for the flight?

It's only been driven using wheel power.
Four electric props will come later.

[Evildead666]

It got some air from wheelpower alone ?

[cjolley]

I guess so.

[Dr Mordrid]

Removable/stowable electric props & pods -