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Jet-Powered Wheelchair

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the and-they're-off! dept.

gpmcdermott writes "What does a man with too much time, a jet engine, and his mother-in-law's wheelchair, do? The BBC is reporting on the results on the Beeb."

3 of 244 comments (clear)

  1. If you like that one by Prince+Vegeta+SSJ4 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Check out THIS baby. 85mph with 300LBS of thrust?!?!?

  2. Re:On the other hand ... by cecille · · Score: 5, Interesting

    A little while ago I was reading some snopes at work (bored) and somehow I managed to surf over to this story. Very long, but incedibly interesting.

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    ...no two people are not on fire.
  3. Links? Details? Plans? by merlin_jim · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I myself am in a wheelchair and have been considering some "added mobility" features.

    I don't want plain old electric motors. I want to have to wheel myself around with muscle mass. I'm in a wheelchair. I need all the excercise I can get.

    But for longer distance or varying conditions, having other means is nice.

    Where are the details? plans? How do I outfit myself with a jet engine? What kind of jet engine is it? turbine? pulse jet?

    For the curious, my current plan is to hand build a wankel. Actually the whole engine will be hand built. Central keyed axle going through a series of flat modules; one power pack (battery+starter/generator), one wankel, one ducted fan assembly. The ducted fan will have two exhausts with louvres on the back to change the ratio of thrust to lift.

    The modules will be enclosed in aluminum. The mounting bolts will be electrically isolated from the chassis, and serve as power distribution. Fuel will come from a propane tank; I'll have an emergency camp stove propane tank to guarantee I can always get back to my car to swap out.

    That should give me a nice self contained bolt on ground effect system. I only plan on using it when on rough terrain (wheelchairs don't like gravel)... so I can buy a second chair and modify it for that purpose. When the GE engine is off, the chair will just sit on its legs (traditional style chair legs with big rubber feet for stability and traction)

    Hmmm does this mean it'll still be a wheelchair?

    But yeah I'd consider doing all/some of this with a jet engine; if I could find some details...

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    I am disrespectful to dirt! Can you see that I am serious?!