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Build Your Own Flying Lawn Mower

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the lawn-ranger dept.

Ant writes "Ever seen a flying lawn mower (streaming; download 5.1 MB WMV file) before? I haven't. The WMV video file description says: 'FlyingThingZ Sky Cutter .40 V2 flying at Moon Lake's Annual Make a Wish Foundation Airshow for 2004'. More information can be found on the official Web site. Seen on Blue's News. My good friend, KaT, brought up a good question: 'Since lawns (also known as grass) live usually less than 6" from the ground, how would flying help them do their job better?'"

4 of 284 comments (clear)

  1. Seeing that video . . . . . by theparanoidcynic · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Made the part of my brain that knows things about fluid mechanics shut down and the other part go get a drink. I'm beyond baffled as to why the thing not only flies, but apparently handles pretty well.

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  2. overkill by tverbeek · · Score: 3, Insightful
    how would flying help them do their job better?

    I'm still trying to figure out how combustion engines or electric motors help grass cutters do their job better, let alone propulsion mechanisms to compensate for the weight of the motors... which require even more power to compensate for their own weight, and nuisance safety mechanisms which have to stop the engine if you loosen your grip on the controls... in a viscious cycle that deploys so bloody much energy at trimming such little blades of grass. Personally, I get pretty good results - and a nice, trivial amount of peaceful exercise - from an inexpensive, quiet, low-tech reel mower.

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  3. Re:how does this work? by Ron+Atkinson · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I'm 38 years old and flying mowers were around at shows when I was a little kid. It's probably accurate to say that they've been around at least as long or longer than I've been alive.

  4. Re:Okay, relax by kbranch · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I don't think I can take these psycho mods much longer. Insightful? What. The. Fuck.

    And now people are modding it overrated because of the fucked up mod instead of giving it the funny it deserves.