Comments on: Air Force looking to buy flying cars https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/air-force-looking-to-buy-flying-cars/ Thu, 09 Jul 2020 04:34:59 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: pzatchok https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/air-force-looking-to-buy-flying-cars/#comment-1084204 Thu, 09 Jul 2020 04:34:59 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=67264#comment-1084204 I can understand what they are looking for, but I gave yet to see an example offered that fills the military bill.

First they pretty much want an air ambulance. One pilot and two to three patients. These have to be ground and air transportable, quickly recharged off of a generator, safe for ground crews. field repairable to an extent and modular as possible.
Once that basic air-frame is worked out they can change the modular cargo area out for weapons, surveillance systems, or basic transport duties.

Safe for ground crews means either the lift fans are always above the heads of the ground personnel or they shut down and lift out of the way.
With good planning two should be able to fit onto a semi trailer. Which also means they will fit inside our smallest air transport planes.

]]> By: Col Beausabre https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/air-force-looking-to-buy-flying-cars/#comment-1084143 Wed, 08 Jul 2020 06:31:36 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=67264#comment-1084143 Ack, forgot the picture ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/dlberek/3914342734

]]> By: Col Beausabre https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/air-force-looking-to-buy-flying-cars/#comment-1084141 Wed, 08 Jul 2020 06:30:52 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=67264#comment-1084141 The dream of the “flying jeep” has been around for a long time. The Curtiss-Wright Model 2500 actually flew (sorta)….my question is, given it’s from the late Fifties, where are the tail fins….

]]> By: Max https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/air-force-looking-to-buy-flying-cars/#comment-1084112 Tue, 07 Jul 2020 21:17:25 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=67264#comment-1084112 “About 50 companies participated in the virtual Agility Prime Launch Week event, demonstrating corporate interest in the initiative.”

Promotional video, 4:30
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=agility+prime+orb&t=h_&iax=videos&ia=videos&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DKg_qPXvu21I

Impressive model.
http://www.aircarcorp.com/

What happened to the sky car?
https://youtu.be/rjDehMFh4_w
The same that usually happens when you work contracts with the military to develop an air Jeep/ambulance. Nothing.
His website:
https://moller.com/

BBC click, half hour show on flying vehicles and tech.
https://youtu.be/-AA5IiLbxuw

]]> By: hondo https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/air-force-looking-to-buy-flying-cars/#comment-1084111 Tue, 07 Jul 2020 21:17:14 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=67264#comment-1084111 Reference the Chevy K5 Blazer M1009 Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle – they were in fact highly useful and effective. When total replacement began with the HMMVs, they easily went straight to Property Disposal (well maintained and with incredibly low mileage). A number of friends made a small killing buying them in bulk.

]]> By: Jerry Torres https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/air-force-looking-to-buy-flying-cars/#comment-1084109 Tue, 07 Jul 2020 21:07:07 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=67264#comment-1084109 Some fool in DC has been wasting too much time watching “Jetsons” re-runs or Luke Skywalker in his desert skimmer. in Star Wars IV.

]]> By: commodude https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/air-force-looking-to-buy-flying-cars/#comment-1084106 Tue, 07 Jul 2020 18:46:53 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=67264#comment-1084106 The military is learning, but it’s a slow slog.

The Army started RFI, Rapid Fielding initiative, to purchase and field COTS (commercial off the shelf) equipment that troops were buying and bringing on deployment anyway. They finally learned that not all the equipment they were giving us actually worked in the real world, and buying what troops were using anyway saved money and sliced years off of the procurement process.

The Navy attempted this with the Littoral Combat ship (LCS) but blew out the budget when they startled making changes. The ships went from a target price of $275 million to almost 3 times that.

We’ll see how the Air Force does once the fighter mafia chime in.

]]> By: Col Beausabre https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/air-force-looking-to-buy-flying-cars/#comment-1084105 Tue, 07 Jul 2020 18:44:03 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=67264#comment-1084105 This is known as COTS – Commercial Off The Shelf procurement where the military buys a piece of equipment, paints it the appropriate color and issues it to the troops. A perfect example are the four-wheel drive pickups used for administrative chores around the base instead of more expensive (and more capable) tactical vehicles. For example, the Chevy K5 Blazer became a M1009 Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle when you beefed up the suspension a bit, added tow hooks and painted it olive drab.

]]> By: David K https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/air-force-looking-to-buy-flying-cars/#comment-1084104 Tue, 07 Jul 2020 18:35:15 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=67264#comment-1084104 The military also has tons of automobiles used strictly for transportation and not for combat.

Still, they can probably find a way to mount some sort of weapon to a commercial vehicle just as they are sometimes mounted to pick up trucks in light combat / policing activities.

]]> By: Thomas V Willoughby https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/air-force-looking-to-buy-flying-cars/#comment-1084103 Tue, 07 Jul 2020 18:34:07 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=67264#comment-1084103 When I was in the National Guard the Army was doing the same thing. Units that were not first line deployable received CUCVs which were basically bare bones Chevy Blazers and pick ups. They had no amenities but heat, were cammo painted and had a few military fittings to bring them up to spec and a better alternator for radios. Other wise stock.

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