Hover cycle videos
Comments:

Will's picture
Will
March 3, 2010 - 7:21pm
That last one looks like someone did bad things with a vacuum cleaner.

The others, especially the second to the last one, show promise.

Well, maybe except for the jet engine on a hoverskirt. That could be uncomfortable,

Are you in seventh heaven yet, Shadow?

"You're everything that's base in humanity," Cochrane continued. "Drawing up strict, senseless rules for the sole reason of putting you at the top and excluding anyone you say doesn't belong or fit in, for no other reason than just because you say so."


—Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stephens, Federation

Shadow Shack's picture
Shadow Shack
March 4, 2010 - 5:34pm
If only I had a connection to view these things...
I'm not overly fond of Zeb's Guide...nor do I have any qualms stating why. Tongue out

My SF website

Will's picture
Will
March 5, 2010 - 2:05am
Oops, forgot, YouTube and dial-up don't play nice.

"You're everything that's base in humanity," Cochrane continued. "Drawing up strict, senseless rules for the sole reason of putting you at the top and excluding anyone you say doesn't belong or fit in, for no other reason than just because you say so."


—Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stephens, Federation

Anonymous's picture
w00t (not verified)
March 5, 2010 - 8:26am
Ridon Hoverbike
If I understand repulsor technology correctly (ya know I'm an expert because I've seen Star Wars 25+ times)... a hover bike/car can't do a loop. It repels gravity from a planet, what keeps a ground bike on the loop is centripetal force - right?

Will's picture
Will
March 5, 2010 - 4:11pm
No, traction.

Hover vehicles can do a loop, because of the ground effect generated by the air cushion. They just can't handle rough terrain(or water) very well.

"You're everything that's base in humanity," Cochrane continued. "Drawing up strict, senseless rules for the sole reason of putting you at the top and excluding anyone you say doesn't belong or fit in, for no other reason than just because you say so."


—Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stephens, Federation

Shadow Shack's picture
Shadow Shack
March 6, 2010 - 3:12am

Assuming the hoverfans could produce sufficient lift (as in thrust), yes a loop is possible. For the most part, the fans would only produce sufficient lift to provide the air cushion.

But again, assuming sufficient lift...terrain wouldn't be as much of an obstacle either. In other words, the thrust would be adjusted for more "lift" meaning more ground clearance.


In my SF universe, hoverfans are variable thrust devices that are used for both the air cushion as well as maneuvering and braking, meaning fans on one side would emit more thrust to pitch the vehicle into a lean for a turn, or the fans in front would spit out more thrust forward for braking. In other words, the hoverfans don't just lift the vehicle off the ground, they also serve to maneuver it (as opposed to stationary hoverfans along with aft fans for thrust and directional vanes for maneuvers and air brakes to slow it down). So a stunt driver would be able to perform a small "loop" on that premise, but it would be something performed starting at a standstill --- as in "maximum braking at a stop" to pitch the front up, followed by a "burst of forward acceleration" to execute the loop. I just wouldn't permit the loop while in motion as my fans don't work that way.

OTOH I also have "additional thrust" fans for offroad use, meaning a higher air cushion for the nastier terrain. But again, that only puts the hovercraft in a higher position for such use, not so much as to provide more thrust for the loop maneuver. "Street" hvoercraft sit at a 30cm height as suggested in the rules, the offroaders simply sit at 60cm instead and have better modifiers for the terrain (which actually still suck for rough terrain compared to say...an explorer, just not as much as the modifier for a standard hovercraft).

I'm not overly fond of Zeb's Guide...nor do I have any qualms stating why. Tongue out

My SF website

Will's picture
Will
March 6, 2010 - 9:48am
Oh, okay.

"You're everything that's base in humanity," Cochrane continued. "Drawing up strict, senseless rules for the sole reason of putting you at the top and excluding anyone you say doesn't belong or fit in, for no other reason than just because you say so."


—Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stephens, Federation