You Can Buy a Flying Saucer [$90,000]

SCREENSHOT:


The hovercraft is named M200G and built by Moller International of Davis, CA. Its movement is determined by the downdraft of eight small
but powerful rotary engines.

"The craft can carry a payload of 112 kg (250 pounds) and is stabilized by a computer system," explained Moller spokesman Bruce Calkins.

A joystick is employed for steering and the desired altitude (determined with proximity radar) is set with a lever.

"The 10-foot maximum altitude is constrained by the system's computer—it could fly much higher but doing so would require a pilot's license. I don't know exactly who will adopt it first, but the likeliest users are those who are unable to go out and use the land they may already own, because it's a rocky seashore, a swamp, or a bog, with obstructions that would prevent a hovercraft from working," Calkins said.

A standard hovercraft presents a skirt around the bottom and the air pocket can be lost over uneven surfaces. The new hovercraft can consume gasoline but also a combination of ethanol and water, so that it can be environmentally friendly. Still, it requires a lot of fuel.

"With a top speed of about 50 mph (80kmph) it can travel for about an hour, but will consume about 40 gallons (150 l) of fuel during that trip. The craft also emits an earsplitting 85 decibels. With mufflers, Moller eventually hopes to reduce the noise level to a more moderate 65 decibels," said Calkins.

Six demo models will be built by Moller during the next 12 months and then approximately 40 during the following 12 months and the total production could reach 200 to 250 per year thereafter.



I don't know about you guys but $90,000 is a little too much for me. But then again maybe its not too much for a flying saucer.