Gizmodo: Plane

Fold-Up Plane Finally Shown Folding Up

Mark Wilson — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:45:00 EDT

At last week's EAA AirVenture show in Oshkosh, aircraft startup ICON showed up with their folding-winged A5. On display, one setup showed it being towed, propped on a standard trailer and pulled by a standard vehicle. The company hopes to appeal to those who've always been interested in flying but have felt intimidated by all of its attached responsibilities including licensing (you don't need a full-out pilot's license to operate this) and storage (it really can fit in a large garage). And yes, their cockpit resembles a car's dash in a completely scary/awesome way. Here's our full gallery from the event:

The ICON A5 has been flown successfully, but a funny side note—the company announced the plane before testing it in the air. Good thing it works!

Tron Guy Buys Custom-Painted Aircraft To Match Tron Outfit

Jason Chen — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:30:00 EDT

Tron Guy, whose wife calls him Jay Maynard, has just purchased a $140,000 aircraft. Why would the internet phenomenon spend so much money on a plane when it could be so much better used on some home exercise equipment? "I wanted a design that would leave no doubt in anyone's mind that it was Tron Guy's airplane." Well, alright then. [Wired]

Jack Bauer Really Does Save Us From Terrorists

matt buchanan — Fri, 23 May 2008 18:00:00 EDT

As far fetched as some of the tech the spy community plays with is, you'd think they were getting it from spy movies and stuff. Well, they're definitely watching. The Department of Homeland Security's latest idea to protect airports, a laser equipped drone that'll detect and blind missiles with a low-power laser (rather than a megadoom one) is named for Chloe on 24, because they apparently both track down bad guys. We're assuming project Jack kills them. And if they ever reveal one codenamed Solid Snake, all evildoers worldwide should simultaneously piss their pants and seek a career in handicrafts. [Danger Room]

CIA Airlines: Inflatable Getaway Plane Delivered Upon Request

Wilson Rothman — Wed, 21 May 2008 20:50:00 EDT

You find yourself held under "house arrest" in a remote jungle region of Indonesia, sometime in the late 1950s. You may have your suit, fedora and at least one halfway decent tie, but the chances of getting back to the US of A seem slim. The CIA thinks you're not so dispensable, so spytechs—with the help of the always patriotic Goodyear Company—build an inflatable airplane that they can drop into a jungle clearing. Here's what it looks like when fully inflated and ready for takeoff:

One version was apparently inflated by adding water to special pellets which produced gas. Another version says the engine itself, sans prop, pumped the plane up. Either way, it quickly became airworthy and, as a raft as well, could use a body of water as a takeoff strip.

One of the agents involved told the Spycraft authors that it was a viable invention: "We tested it and it worked out pretty good." He admits, though, that the project was killed, probably because of "politics." When a similar crisis emerged later on, the agent thought to pull it out of storage and put it to work, but by then, it had rotted and cracked in a secret CIA warehouse. (They probably shouldn't have put it right next to the Arc of the Covenant.) [More CIA Spytech from the Spycraft Book]

Rocket Lamp Built From Jet Engine (Can We Get A "ZOMG")

Mark Wilson — Fri, 09 May 2008 09:20:00 EDT

This retro-styled rocket lamp is more than the absolutely most perfect accessory to complete any room, it's the absolutely most perfect accessory to complete any room that's built from the igniter can of a freakin' jet engine. One-of-a-kind and shamelessly worth its $2,100 sticker price, we want to push each and every one of its glowing jewels...even though we know that they don't actually do anything...and that they probably aren't even buttons in the first place. [Moto Art via Bornrich]

LED Plane Is More Like An R/C Comet

Mark Wilson — Thu, 08 May 2008 12:10:00 EDT

Flying an R/C plane in the darkness of night can be a difficult proposition. That is, until you add 150 LED lights to the hollows of the plane's fuselage and wings. The creator tells us the brightest model consumes 75W of lighting electricity and is "painfully bright at night." Irreversible cornea damage has never been so much fun! To see a video of the plane in-flight, hit the jump.

Make sure to watch the second half of the clip to catch a pretty remarkable reflection as the plane skims over the water. [CastleCreations]

DARPA Close To Awarding Contract For Spy Plane That Stays Aloft For 5 Years

Sean Fallon — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 21:20:01 EST

According to Flight Global, DARPA is close to awarding a contract to build an unmanned aircraft that can stay in the air for up to 5 years at a time. DARPA describes the "Vulture" project as a "persistent pseudo-satellite capability in an aircraft package." In other words, the aircraft can hover over a single area, narcing, communicating, or surveying for years at a time.

As with most lofty goals, there are major obstacles to contend with. First and foremost, the designers are going to have to figure out how to power such an aircraft over the course of these long missions. Oh, and it will have to do it while carrying a 1000 pound payload in the fearsome winds at a 60,000—90,000 feet. No problem right? As for the design, the Vulture will most likely draw on NASA designs like the one pictured above, but there is no definitive time table on when we might actually see a working craft. [Flight Global via CNET via DVICE]

Air Force Developing Spy Planes That Can Recharge on Power Lines

Sean Fallon — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 17:20:05 EST

The US Air Force Research Lab is currently developing a micro air vehicle (MAV) that can harvest energy from power lines, which could lead to significantly longer surveillance missions. The aircraft would even have the ability to transform into inconspicuous objects, like an "innocuous piece of trash hanging from the cable." This would be achieved using existing technologies for collapsible wings and "sliding skins" that would allow the fuselage to change shape.

Naturally, the notion of landing on a power line is riddled with challenges. For starters, the device could easily cause a discharge of sparks that would give away its position. Despite these challenges and the admission that the whole concept is "bizarre," the AFRL is planning on conducting test flights in 2008. [New Scientist]

Prototype F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Helmet Sees Into Your Soul

Jason Chen — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 19:20:58 EST

The British Ministry of Defence has eliminated missiles and other projectile weapons in favor of a more open, glass covered cockpit offensive. Why? Their new tactic is to fly as close to enemy aircraft as possible while wearing this prototype helmet to make the opposition shit themselves to death. Victims won't be reincarnated as anything good either, but that's just a side effect. [BBC via TheDayTheyTriedToKillMe]

Electric Paper Plane Launcher; Stocking Filler For the One You Love

Haroon Malik — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 22:30:00 EDT

Let us assume you have a girlfriend; what would you get her for Christmas? Imaginary problem solved; enter the Electric Paper Plane Launcher Educational Aid. The kit contains all the materials to construct a launch pad for paper planes, which will allow them to travel at speeds of 50km/h. Fifty freaking km/h!

If that statistic does not get your fabricated love's dopamine receptors to hypersensitive status on receipt of the gift, you are with the wrong fictional person (sorry). So what? That is one less person to get in your way when making/unleashing your paper planes at 50km/h using your $14.95 launcher kit. You can do better, buddy; a nonexistent girlfriend that refused to make out with you and continually nagged you about playing too much Xbox 360 isn't worth your effort, anyway. Keep looking, and go easy on the hallucinogens. [Product Page via Nerd Approved]

Mach 8 Hydrogen Hypersonic Airliner on the Drawing Board

Charlie White — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 09:51:37 EDT

It looks like that Boeing jet we showed you yesterday isn't going to be the only airplane using hydrogen if the European Union has its way. The European Space Agency just got $14.5 million in a second round of funding from the EU to study the idea of developing A2, a hydrogen-fueled hypersonic aircraft that might travel at an incredible speed of Mach 5.5. They're studying what it would take to build an aircraft so fast that you could fly from Brussels to Sydney in 4.6 hours. Sheesh, that's 10,407 miles. There's even talk of an engine that could propel the craft to Mach 8. This rocket plane makes the Mach 2 of the Concorde seem glacially slow.

The trick here is to develop a special engine they're calling Scimitar, capable of thrusting the craft to those rocket-like speeds. It will be a rocket engine with a turbo compressor added, without needing liquid oxygen like those used in the boosters that send spacecraft into orbit. Such an engine is also capable of slower flight, allowing the aircraft to fly over land where supersonic speeds aren't permitted because of sonic booms.

The researchers are proposing a big plane, too. Check out the A2's size next to the gigantic Airbus A380 in the graphic above. This A2 hyperliner is big enough for 300 passengers, and the engineers are hoping to make it cost-effective enough for tickets to ride on the huge plane to cost about the same as a normal business class seat does today. [The Register, via Ecotality Life]

Video of World's Largest RC Airplane, the B29 Dina Might

AddyDugdale — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 05:49:13 EDT

From Belgium, the B29 Dina Might is the world's mightiest remote-controlled plane. With a wingspan of almost 30 feet, it weighs 463 pounds and runs off four 160cc engines. Spin those propellers, mate. [Live Leak]

Solar-Powered Plane Smashes World Record, Sort Of

msparkes — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 05:56:55 EDT

UK defense firm Qinetiq has smashed the world record for the longest unmanned flight. Their solar-powered Zephyr flew continuously for an incredible 54 hours, easily beating the previous 30-hour record held by a US jet aircraft. Unfortunately though, it won't be officially recognized as a record, because of a slight oversight.

The flight was pretty secretive because QinetiQ are a defense contractor, and therefore there weren't any representatives from the world air sports federation there. This means that it can't be verified and entered into the record books. A Qinetiq employee seemed sure that it could go even better though, saying; "You ain't seen nothing yet." That enthusiasm is great, but just remember to invite the FAI guys next time, OK?

The Zephyr has a huge 59-ft wingspan, but weighs only 31kg, making it extremely efficient. During the flight it reached a maximum altitude of 58,000 ft, charging it's batteries during the day so that it could fly through the night. [BBC]

BRio Flying Boat: Flies, Boats

Mark Wilson — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 12:24:20 EDT

The BRio flying boat may look like a raft glued to a glider, but it's so much more! Because when the $10,000 kit is assembled with an engine, you and a bikini-clad friend will boast cruising speeds of 44mph for distances over 100 miles. The contraption works because the hydrodynamic boat is naturally aerodynamic. And to be fair, the experience looks like a lot of fun if it doesn't get you killed. Which it will. [brio via crave]

Buy a Cheap Antonov, Laugh at Carry-on Limits

msparkes — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 05:30:26 EDT

If infinite legroom and no carry-on limits appeal to you, then you're in luck, because the Russian government is selling off Anotonov AN-124s cheap. You can probably grab yourself a bargain with one of the enormous planes, which can carry a load of 150 metric tons. There's even a bedroom for the pilots, which you can see in the video after the jump.

It may not be very green to have a personal jet, and this is probably the least green ever conceived, right up there with Google's party plane and Travolta's Boeing. [Defense Tech]

Exciting NASA Air Competition Full of Dull Planes

msparkes — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 04:45:23 EDT

NASA handed out $250,000 in prize money this weekend to aircraft designers who competed in a competition to create personal air-vehicles. But don't be fooled by the picture and think that the event was full of flying cars, experimental planes and UFO-shaped discs—all the entrants were standard-looking planes, as you will see in the videos after the jump.

The event was part of the Centennial Challenges, the government-sponsored competitions that aim to have us all flying to the office in the morning and taking holidays on the moon as soon as possible. The money was given out in six categories: speed, short takeoff, efficiency, handling, noise and overall best.

The grand prize of $100,000, plus two $25,000 prizes, went to a slightly-modified Pipistrel Virus, like the one shown below. It costs $70,000 new, so the team was basically awarded a free plane and $80,000 of gas money.

Another standard looking plane, a modified Vans RV-4 as shown below, won $25,000 and $50,000 for speed and noise sections.

One team were flying a Cessna 172, which has been in production since the 1940's, and even they won a prize. Next year I'm going to turn up with a remote controlled plane - it would probably win me enough to take a decent vacation. [CNet]

American Airlines to Test In-Flight Wi-Fi in 2008

Jason Chen — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 15:30:56 EDT

Some time in 2008, you may be lucky enough to get on a 767-200 transcontinental American Airlines flight that's testing the AirCell in-flight broadband service. The wireless net access will be available to all classes—yes, even us poor people—for a price. There will be three antennas outside the plane to transmit your 802.11a/b/g "Lolz im on a plane" messages to your buddies. No word on when this will move to widespread deployment. [AA - Thanks Mike]

Green Airways Flying Saucer Plane Design

Jason Chen — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 18:30:30 EDT

Is this green flying saucer plane the eco-friendly plane of the future? It's a design from the CleanEra project, aimed at making air travel more economical (in the environmental sense) by using lighter materials and weird ass shapes. Their goal is to get the carbon usage down to less than 50% of current planes. Whether this is light on the Earth is yet to be seen, it looks like something the Green Lantern would fly in. [LiveScience]

Palm Z Micro R/C Dogfighting Bi-Plane

kevinhall2 — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 16:30:00 EDT

The Palm Z Micro Plane is a lightweight flier controlled by infrared remote control. What's really awesome is the plane's bi-wing design and flaming paint job. Then there's the remote's tri-band functionality, allowing for three of the planes to fly in the same space, so you and your friends can trail one another under the dinner table and try to knock the planes out of the sky.

Since the Palm Z is made out of foam, you don't have to worry about crashes, either. Each flier will set you back over $40, though, and the controllers take six AA batteries. Cheap for an RC plane, but maybe not a tiny one. The planes include a lithium polymer battery inside that takes ten minutes to charge and allows for five minutes of flying. [Firebox via Shiny Shiny]

Japanese Version of Boeing 787 Dreamliner to Offer Butt-Wiping Luxury

Charlie White — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 11:55:24 EDT

Now that the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is no longer under wraps, airlines around the world are figuring out how to make it even more luxurious. Not to be outdone is Japan's All Nippon Airways, which will equip its bathrooms with bun-spraying washlet toilets from Toto. The seats have special bidet wands that wash and dry your butt, giving you a degree of cleanliness that's otherwise impossible unless you just take a shower.

Representatives of All Nippon Airways eagerly anticipate the May 2008 date when the company begins accepting delivery on its fifty 787 Dreamliners ordered from Boeing, boasting that the fancy-schmancy toilets will "refresh the parts other airlines cannot reach." These washlet devices are commonplace in Japan, and are starting to make inroads Stateside. We can only hope that someday we Americans might catch up in the cleanliness department, joining the scrubbed ranks of the squeaky clean-assed Japanese.

Japan's New Toilets Wash, Dry... and Fly! [Inventor Spot]

Jet-Powered Semi Truck Races Plane

Travis Hudson — Mon, 28 May 2007 15:31:42 EDT

This video of the world's fastest truck racing a plane makes me ponder: Why don't they put jet engines in more vehicles nowadays? Jet fuel is cheaper than regular unleaded now, right? Might as well just slap the jet engine onto the back of my Civic. –Travis Hudson

[Via Techeblog]

Plane Clean Air Filter will Bring Out the OCD Sufferer in You

Addy Dugdale — Tue, 22 May 2007 06:37:42 EDT

The Plane Clean Air Filter is the kind of product that makes me think: "Yay! Great idea," while at the same time wondering whether I am becoming a little too prissy for my own good. How prissy? And how will this gizmo help me? Find out after the (disinfected) jump.

When I was at college in France, I met a student of Oberlin College who once talked me through her public restroom routine. She would discard the first five sheets of loo roll because someone else's hands had touched them, then, using another bung of paper, flush immediately. The loo roll would then be stuffed down the loo so that no splashback from the previous occupant sullied her untouched and fragrant skin. Using her well-developed thigh muscles, she would hover above the seat, wipe and then use loo roll to flush after finishing up. Once out of the cubicle, she washed her hands twice with Bacto-cide™, a caring-looking solution that she carried everywhere before leaving the cubicle. Her chemical warfare suit would only be removed once she was safely back at home. But I digress.

The Plane Clean Air Filter is a simple concept: an FDA-certified filter that you screw onto the air nozzle above your airplane seat that is guaranteed to remove 99.5% of allergens, viruses and bacteria from the plane's air stream. It costs $19.99 from Target. – Ad Dugdale

Product Page [Target via Oh!Gizmo]

In This Week's Episode of Lame Airplane Seat Innovations...

Travis Hudson — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 17:30:47 EDT

...we find our heroes cramped in their seats even more thanks to this extremely awkward "Freedom" concept. The so-called freedom concept would allow planes to add another row of seats thanks to reversed seating arrangements. The reversed seats would reduce needed width by overlapping shoulders. The only way I would consider something like this is if the price of the ticket were, say, half of what it would normally go for with regular seating. I can't wait for the day that airplanes eliminate seating altogether and just do standing room, you know, like the subway. –Travis Hudson

Airplanes to become even more uncomfortably close [Gearfuse]

Carbon Butterfly Gallery: RC Plane Lighter Than a Sheet of Paper

Brian Lam — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 21:34:00 EDT

The Carbon Fiber Butterfly is the world's lightest RC Plane. Between its transparent plastic wings, the carbon fiber skeleton, the prop, controller chip, drivetrain and rudder, it weighs 3.6 grams. That's less than a sheet of paper.

The motor and 5:1 gearbox are Swiss made, and the rudder actuator is sensitive to 64-steps, allowing 180-degree turns within a 12-foot-wide room. And the battery pack is a dot-sized 30Mah Lithium ion that docks on the 2-channel remote. The prop? Carbon fiber, of course.

How does it fly? I won't lie, I'm going to use the included simulator software before I try piloting this $300 plane in my house. But after the gallery, there's a video. More on my maiden flight, later, after flight school.

Video after the jump...as soon as youtube gets its shit together.

A little history: The Carbon is the successor to the original Butterfly, made from Balsa wood. I won't mince words: That thing was the most fragile gadget I'd ever seen. Within minutes, the slight frame was smashed in three places. –Brian Lam

Carbon Butterfly [Gizmodo]

Baby Spoon Plane, for Appetite-Stimulating Cropdusting

Charlie White — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 13:00:00 EDT

Some of us have kids, and we know how finicky the little runts can be. I know a couple of wee ones who would love this Baby Spoon Plane, a $10.50 set of wings and tail you can place onto your kid's fave utensil, giving visual aid to your feeding-time stimulations and simulations. Sound effects not included.

Start 'em off young, and who knows, maybe the little tyke will become a pilot someday. – Charlie White

Product Page [DrinkStuff, via Coolest Gadgets]

Air Kite, the Radio-Controlled Kite Plane that Scares the Neighbors at Night

Charlie White — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 11:25:00 EST

Sure, there have been kite planes before, but this one's maker claims his to be the most durable yet. It's a radio-controlled airplane/kite configuration that runs on a rechargeable battery and can fly up to 300 feet away before you've completely lost it.

You could scare the neighbors with its 14 LED lights, making people think there's a UFO invading their space. It's unclear how long the craft will fly on a battery charge, or if it will work in a stiff wind. Find out for a pricey $99.95. – Charlie White

Product Page [Gadget Universe, via ubergizmo]

Lockheed Martin Quiet Supersonic Transport: From New York to LA in 2 Hours, Quietly

blongo3 — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 19:35:07 EST

You too can fly cross-country in 2 hours, that is, if you can ever get your hands on a Lockheed Martin Quiet Supersonic Transport (QSST)—a 12 person luxury plane that can hit over 1,100 MPH. But unlike its daddy, the Concord, this plane can muffle its sonic boom to 1/100 the strength. That means you won't be limited to flying over the ocean, so you can take this baby across the country without disturbing anyone.

The way the QSST is able to keep itself so quiet lies in its aerodynamics. Instead of creating two large booms like most supersonic planes, the QSST is designed to create many smaller ones. (boom, boom boom, boom, boom.)

Gizmodo sure could use one of these to get to all of the tech conventions around the world. Especially since I get so bored on long flights that Chen said that I'm like sitting next to a toddler.– Ben Longo

All Sonic, No Boom [PopSci]

Doomsday Plane: A Floating Pentagon 'Just in Case'

Gizloco — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 10:11:24 EST

Think your ride is cool? I bet it's no match for the National Airborne Operations Center, no matter how pimped out yours is. Known colloquially as the "Doomsday Plane," the Boeing 747 is outfitted enough to be considered a floating Pentagon. (In the event of a devastating attack upon the United States, the Doomsday Plane serves as a mobile Pentagon.) It's got enough food, water, fuel, etc. to stay afloat for days on end. To top it off, about a dozen of the most "relevant" war plans are always onboard. Watch your ass, Sealand.

Of course, we couldn't get a picture of this uberplane, so just pretend that this Secret Service guard is in front of it and not Air Force One. – Nicholas Deleon

Inside Bob Gates's Flying Fortress [Time]

Air Hogs Storm Launcher - R/C Hovercraft

Mark Wilson — Sun, 15 Oct 2006 13:30:51 EDT

Remember that video we lnked to a while back with some guys playing with this ridiculously cool dual-propeller hovercraft/plane/thing? The video is gone, but now it's a real product.

The Storm Launcher runs $120 (or three easy payments of $39.95) and comes with a LIPO battery pack and charger, 2 extra propeller blades, 2 prop guards, prop tool and instructional CD. Our guess is that if you get 2 extra propellers in the kit, you will need about 20, but maybe you are a Storm Launcher prodigy and didn't even know it.

Our "tipster" - quotes because the guy wrote like their infomercial, and for his sake we hope he is receiving a paycheck - said that if you didn't want to buy off TV or their website, check out Target and Walmart who should have them on shelves shortly. But those bundles will lack batteries. – Mark Wilson

Product Page Thanks "Chris"!

Plantraco's Carbon Butterfly Remote Control Plane

Jason Chen — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 19:45:27 EDT

At 3.6 grams, this Carbon Butterfly is the lightest RC plane in the world. And because it's made out of Carbon Fiber, it's got the strength of steel but the flexibility of a 14-year-old gymnast.

It has a range of 400 feet, and is directed by a 4xAA RC remote control. It's a little pricey at $300, but it also includes a carrying case. You can even fly it around your living room dive bombing your little sister and aggravating your father's hypertension. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Plantraco via Cool Hunting]

Fly Wheels XPV: Flying Remote Controlled Car

Brian Lam — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 22:18:59 EDT

This remote controlled car looks like a little Moller Skycar for a reason. It zooms over grass, concrete, and dirt. But at 20MPH, it goes airborne. Whoosh! During flight, the vehicle can reach heights of 20 stories at 30MPH. And the racer only costs 60 bucks (plus $20 for a rechargeable battery that'll last 10 minutes). Like Doc Brown said, "Where we're going, we don't need roads."– Brian Lam

Skycar [Moller]
Fly Wheels XPV [Jakks Pacific]

Honda Getting Into the Mini-Jet Business with its HondaJet

Charlie White — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 13:56:18 EDT

Honda has been working for over 20 years on its HondaJet, and now has decided to go into business with Piper Aircraft to sell the six-passenger (plus one pilot) mini-jet by 2010. The company says it will start taking orders this Fall for the jet (seen here in its custom Gizmodo livery), which will cost somewhere between $1.5 million and $4 million.

This little pocket rocket has already flown at 43,000 feet at a speed of 450mph. And in the grand tradition of Honda automobiles, it's 5% more fuel-efficient than its competitors, according to Michimasa Fujino, a vice president of Honda Research and Development Americas, who has led the jet's development. Plus, the jet's wing-mounted engines makes its interior the roomiest in its class.

Looks like just the right size to fit our intrepid Gizmodo team, taking us on necessary adventures far and wide. Note to self: order one asap. – Charlie White

Honda And Piper Take To The Skies On A Wing, A Prayer And A HondaJet [Jalopnik]

Honda Adding a Jet, a Six-Passenger Model, to Its Lineup [New York Times]

Radio-Controlled Flying Boat

Charlie White — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 10:05:29 EDT

The Super Speed Floatplane zips along on the water, then you pull back on the radio-controlled elevator and up it goes, even flying straight up if you dare. Its makers say it can also drag along on dry land, able to negotiate surfaces such as grass, concrete or asphalt, and it does all this using battery power. It's said to run 30 minutes on a three-hour charge, using a brushless electric motor and a lithium polymer battery.

It has a four-channel radio control receiver that's available in either left- or right-handed configurations, and the company says this "RC Hydrofoam FlyingBoat" is 100% ready to run right out of the box. Check out the video for some remarkable aerobatics showing that either this R/C boat/plane is extremely maneuverable and easy to fly, or those who were flying it for the demo were exceedingly well-rehearsed. It's probably a combination of the two. Yours for $230 including shipping. – Charlie White

Product Page (kick-ass video!) [BuyFlyingBoat.com]