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Buy Your Very Own Exoskeleton Flying Vehicle

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the dropping-in-on-your-friends dept.

dks writes "Yahoo! News is running a story about a personal flying machine originally developed for the military that straps on an individual's back and allows her to fly around for over two hours at a time. The prototype is now up for auction on eBay. The only catch--you have to agree not to operate the vehicle if you purchase it. Uh...yeah...I'm just buying it for display. Yeah, that's it."

10 of 197 comments (clear)

  1. Why? by mcgintech · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I don't see why they have to agree not to fly it. Why not just sign an agreement that if you kill yourself or others, the seller is not responsible? Makes more sense to me. What idiot would by a personal flying machine for > a million and agree not to use it?

    --

    Uhhhh, yeah, thath dithgustin. [The lady's man]

    1. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Maybe it doesn't work?

    2. Re:Why? by Jhon · · Score: 3, Insightful

      My guess would be that they dont want the bad publicity should some fool decide to be a "test pilot" for this "prototype".

      Besides, why would someone WANT to fly this? It would be cool if it was like the 3rd or 4th generation COMMERCIAL version. At least the likelyhood of faulty engineering would be less of a possibility (i.e. they worked out the kinks). But a prototype? I'm all for being a beta tester for software or even hardware. Just not for something that could reach terminal velocity.

      -jhon

    3. Re:Why? by Guppy06 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      "The agreement is with the seller."

      If the seller sells the thing as a "flying machine," it's covered by the FAA rules and regulations on flying machines. Getting the buyer to promise not to fly it gets the seller out of having to demonstrate its airworthyness/get it certified/etc.

  2. /. e-bay by russianspy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This is either a new low, or a new high.

  3. How long until... by leomekenkamp · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Considering the facts that

    • the name SoloTrek looks alot like StarTrek
    • the font of their logo is remarkably similar to the font used for TNG
    • they obviously are into science fiction
    How long until they get sued by a certain company protecting their trademark?

    I started writing this post trying to make a joke, but now I have thought some more about it; dunno...

    --
    Wenn ist das Nunstueck git und Slotermeyer? Ja! Beiherhund das Oder die Flipperwaldt gersput.
  4. Darwinism, and an alternative by core+plexus · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Not like anyone has $1mil to buy it with anyway. A more practicle, and inexpensive, personal exoskeleton flying vehicle is available right not. It's called an ultralight.

    Man Gets 70mpg in Homemade Car-Made from a Mainframe Computer

    1. Re:Darwinism, and an alternative by rodolfo.borges · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Exoskeleton? This is more like a mini-helicopter. This thing isn't even articulated!

  5. Bad design? by dubbayu_d_40 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Even helicopers can land if their engines fail. It looks to me that if those engines fail, the passenger is outta luck.

  6. The price is right!!!! LOL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful
    started at 50k, currently 270,300$.... and the reserver as not been met yet.
    Come one .... this worth shit.
    You can buy a real flying machine for less then this price.

    Helicopter Robinson R22 Beta II 270 TTSN(110000$)
    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ewItem&item=2400068958&category=26428

    Beautiful 1952 MARTIN 404 (85300$)
    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ewItem&item=1876857064&category=26428

    1981 PITTS S2A - FACTORY built (47000$)
    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ewItem&item=1876735162&category=26428

    Air Command Sport (4162$)
    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ewItem&item=1876625116&category=26428