Here's another daredevil magic carpet that reminds us of that Vertipod we showed you last week—the PAM Individual Lifting Vehicle (ILV) is a flying platform whose makers say is as easy to pilot as a Segway. While there's no accounting for terrified knocking knees, if you have nerves of steel a mere shift of your weight steers the flying platform that's designed for crop spraying, aerial photography and short-range search and rescue operations.
Its twin rotors underneath are powered by two 105-hp engines, and its skids make this craft look more like a helicopter than the VertiPod. The $50,000 flying machine requires a pilot's license to operate, and is theoretically capable of traveling at 60mph. Just looking at this thing scares us half to death, and the fact that one of the options is a parachute gives you an idea of the confidence of its makers.
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By Countrykenrs at 8:50 AM ON 01/14/08
I find it unbelievable that a device with counter rotating exposed propellers, which appear to be just about the correct height to eviscerate someone unwise enough to approach it whilst it is powered up at ground level, would be licensed by the FAA.