Personal flying vehicles

[pmbug]

I posted a joke in the car privacy thread about the practicality of an ultralight vehicle:

Post in thread 'Privacy4cars.com - delete information your cars collect about you'

Apr 29, 2026

Looking more practical by the day...

• pmbug

Today I discovered a new one. Perhaps one of these things might become mainstream one day...

...
Volonaut Airbike technical specifications

• Empty vehicle mass: 30kg (66lbs)
• Top speed: 102km/h (63mph) - in compliance with FAA Ultralight
• Max pilot mass: 95kg (209lbs)
• Propulsion: redundant jet turbines
• Flight time: max 10 minutes
• Fuel type: diesel, biodiesel, Jet-A1, kerosene
• Refuel time: under 1 minute
• Control: fully redundant flight computer enhanced stabilization
• License to operate: none required in the US - in compliance with FAA Ultralight

...

About Volonaut Airbike — Volonaut

volonaut.com

This one is only $880K. What a deal!

 

[Viking]

Already got one.

 

[Casey Jones]

They won't let me drive a car without a satellite kill-switch, Breathylizer and iris scan, and they're gonna just allow anyone to do this?

I think not. Before we build personal flying machines, we're gonna have to destroy the Regulatory State.

 

[Bottom Feeder]

No breathalyzer or iris scan involved here:

​

Speed is believed to be a factor in the crash that left this motorcycle dangling.
Road/Track

This is not an A.I.-generated image. This is a real scene from an automobile-motorcycle wreck in Canada. A BMW 3-Series crashed into a motorcycle and launched it nearly 20 feet into the air, where it became stuck on a traffic signal above an intersection.

 

[Casey Jones]

^^^
I'd call bull scat on that one, except that I've seen accidents as weird on the rails. Cars, trucks, survivors who got run over by trains and came out unscratched.

But ya know...that's just Darwin cleaning the gene pool. As the comments said, the mortarsickle had to be going at an EXTREME rate of speed to launch a 450-pound road bike that high up and then wedge it on the crossbeam.

A fair chance that even if the NPC rider didn't learn anything, he'll be staying of bikes awhile.

 

[pmbug]

... A BMW 3-Series crashed into a motorcycle and launched it nearly 20 feet into the air, ...

Video:

 

[Casey Jones]

Video:

I'm calling BS on that "video."

Notice his partner there...who stopped short. Doing a "standee" - up on the front wheel, instead of the rear. Stunt riders do this.

And yes, it can happen in panic stops, too. BUT...while the crashed rider is bouncing down the pavement, and his new bike is flying, the other cycle and rider just stands there on the front wheel...immobile.

Impossible. You either crash down on your rear tire, or fall over on your side. Or if you're really skilled, you wobble to balance, like a bear on a unicycle. But there's NO movement from that guy.

IMHO, someone doctored that pic and made an AI vid. Nothing is real, anymore.

 

[Joe King]

I'm calling BS on that "video."

Notice his partner there...who stopped short. Doing a "standee" - up on the front wheel, instead of the rear. Stunt riders do this.

And yes, it can happen in panic stops, too. BUT...while the crashed rider is bouncing down the pavement, and his new bike is flying, the other cycle and rider just stands there on the front wheel...immobile.

Impossible. You either crash down on your rear tire, or fall over on your side. Or if you're really skilled, you wobble to balance, like a bear on a unicycle. But there's NO movement from that guy.

IMHO, someone doctored that pic and made an AI vid. Nothing is real, anymore.

The accident is absolutely real. That vid is somehow edited to leave the bike in a wheel stand just before impact.

 

[pmbug]

 

[Bushpilot]

I’m out for that, I’m too fat….which might be a good thing.

 

[pmbug]

It sounds like a Segway for the skies and I'd give it a try. Not sure how high they go, and 11 minute flight time isn't much, but I'm guessing it's pretty fun.

 

[Joe King]

It sounds like a Segway for the skies and I'd give it a try. Not sure how high they go, and 11 minute flight time isn't much, but I'm guessing it's pretty fun.

Yea, it'd be great.


Right up until there's 5 million other people buzzing around in every which direction trying to fly theirs too.
.....and I sure as heck wouldn't want 'em flying over my house.


Can ya even imagine the pile of regulations there'd need to be if something that thing were to ever become widespread?

The carnage would be on an astronomical scale if we were to let every idiot who can currently qualify for a drivers license, fly those things too.

 

[pmbug]

Meet George Jetson
His boy, Elroy
Daughter Judy
Jane, his wife

lol

 

[Someone_else]

Jane grabs some bills from George's wallet.

 

[Casey Jones]

Anyone remember the Bell jet-pack? That was gonna revolutionize personal air travel, too.

 

[nickndfl]

I need a 2-seater so I can carry a Japanese sex robot.

 

[Casey Jones]

I need a 2-seater so I can carry a Japanese sex robot.

Made me think.

In the Navv...I was stationed (on a ship tied up at) NAS North Island. I had a car, so I'd be over the Coronado Bay Bridge when I went into town, or Vegas, wherever.

Now there was a significant toll for single-occupant cars, but 2 or more persons inside could use the carpool lane and bypass the tollbooths. So I got a dummy, sat it on the passenger seat of my van, and on I rolled.

Even then, some people got busted, but by luck or whatever, I never did.

Can't do that now. In fact, I'd be surprised if they even have tollbooths...it would be EZPass or else mail a yuuge bill to the registered owner.

 

[Joe King]

Can't do that now. In fact, I'd be surprised if they even have tollbooths...it would be EZPass or else mail a yuuge bill to the registered owner.

That actually makes it even easier. Just need a bit of tape over strategic parts of your plate. Ya know, make an "E" look like an "F". Easy peasy!

Just be sure to pull over when hitting city streets to take the tape back off.

Around here, ever since they did the tolls by mail, or electronically, there's hardly ever any cops on the tollways to even notice something like that. They're all on city streets.


Edited to add: or just get a license plate frame with bright IR leds in it that cause the camera to not be able to read the plate.

 

[Casey Jones]

That actually makes it even easier. Just need a bit of tape over strategic parts of your plate. Ya know, make an "E" look like an "F". Easy peasy!

Just be sure to pull over when hitting city streets to take the tape back off.

Around here, ever since they did the tolls by mail, or electronically, there's hardly ever any cops on the tollways to even notice something like that. They're all on city streets.

They now bust people for missing, obscured, or even covered front license plates. You know, those magic covers that supposedly prevent cameras from reading the new-style non-embosed, silk-screened letters on license plates? If they have a record (like Fluck) of a car that looks like yours with an unreadable plate, and then they find you with a cover or other device (or even a dead or fake license you hanged on for the crossing) you'll get stopped and hit with heavy fines.

The Soros prosecutors don't care about rape, robbery or fleeing the cops; but they get REAL hard against white people trying to duck tolls.

When I was down in Arizona a year ago, I got pulled over and given a warning because the black plastic frame from the dealer, partly obscured the state logo and the validation sticker on my rear plate. The deputy conveniently had a screwdriver to remove it, and told me to get it off while he watched, or take a ticket.

 

[Joe King]

They now bust people for missing, obscured, or even covered front license plates. You know, those magic covers that supposedly prevent cameras from reading the new-style non-embosed, silk-screened letters on license plates? If they have a record (like Fluck) of a car that looks like yours with an unreadable plate, and then they find you with a cover or other device (or even a dead or fake license you hanged on for the crossing) you'll get stopped and hit with heavy fines.

The Soros prosecutors don't care about rape, robbery or fleeing the cops; but they get REAL hard against white people trying to duck tolls.

When I was down in Arizona a year ago, I got pulled over and given a warning because the black plastic frame from the dealer, partly obscured the state logo and the validation sticker on my rear plate. The deputy conveniently had a screwdriver to remove it, and told me to get it off while he watched, or take a ticket.

The IR thing I'm talking about doesn't obscure anything. To the naked eye it all stays perfectly readable and the frame looks like any other plate frame. It's only the cameras that can't read 'em.

 

[Casey Jones]

The IR thing I'm talking about doesn't obscure anything. To the naked eye it all stays perfectly readable and the frame looks like any other plate frame. It's only the cameras that can't read 'em.

The law knows about them, and that's exactly why they're illegal.

I'm talking about CLEAR covering, just as you are. The authorities wasted no time in banning ANYTHING hanging on/over/around a license plate.

When you're talking them losing even a small percent of revenue, they act fast. They don't care how much their minions waste, but the muppets are NOT gonna be able to dodge ANYTHING.

It's also why they've gone after little kids selling lemonade on the sidewalk, for not having permits or collecting sales taxes.

 

[Joe King]

The law knows about them, and that's exactly why they're illegal.

What I'm talking about isn't illegal.

I'm talking about CLEAR covering, just as you are.

What I'm referring to is not a covering, clear or otherwise.



It's a license plate frame that does not cover any of the plate nor it's letters and numbers.

I've seen the "IR covers" they sell, (a piece of clear, sometimes lightly tinted plastic that goes over your plate. I see 'em all the time on cars) but that is not the same as what I am talking about.

A frame goes around the plate and has tiny little infrared led's embedded into it that shine bright enough to cause a washed out image around the plate on a toll camera. Prolly works for Flock too.

 

[Casey Jones]

It's a license plate frame that does not cover any of the plate nor it's letters and numbers.

I've seen the "IR covers" they sell, (a piece of clear, sometimes lightly tinted plastic that goes over your plate. I see 'em all the time on cars) but that is not the same as what I am talking about.

A frame goes around the plate and has tiny little infrared led's embedded into it that shine bright enough to cause a washed out image around the plate on a toll camera. Prolly works for Flock too.

Well, that explains why Arizona outlawed all frames.

See my remarks above - being stopped and ordered to take mine off, when I was traveling through.

I don't know how many OTHER states have outlawed them - probably quite a few. Montana's generally at the tail end of these things - we only have two Flocking cameras in town, both on (busy) parking lots. The mall and a major regional bank, bordering on Costco.

 

[Joe King]

Well, that explains why Arizona outlawed all frames.

See my remarks above - being stopped and ordered to take mine off, when I was traveling through.

I don't know how many OTHER states have outlawed them - probably quite a few. Montana's generally at the tail end of these things - we only have two Flocking cameras in town, both on (busy) parking lots. The mall and a major regional bank, bordering on Costco.

They are not illegal in Arizona.

The reason yours was, is because it obviously touched or covered a part of the lettering around the edges of your plate. That is in fact illegal in most, if not all States. The frame I have does not cover any of the lettering, nor even come close to it. It doesn't visually block anything.

Here, they were so anal about stuff blocking a plate, they had been stopping people with bike racks on their way to/from a trail because it caused the bikes on it to hang in front of the plate making it hard to read.

The thing I am talking about is just a simple black frame with led's in it that causes a camera to take an over exposed pic of the plate.

 

[Casey Jones]

They are not illegal in Arizona.

The reason yours was, is because it obviously touched or covered a part of the lettering around the edges of your plate. That is in fact illegal in most, if not all States. The frame I have does not cover any of the lettering, nor even come close to it. It doesn't visually block anything.

Here, they were so anal about stuff blocking a plate, they had been stopping people with bike racks on their way to/from a trail because it caused the bikes on it to hang in front of the plate making it hard to read.

The thing I am talking about is just a simple black frame with led's in it that causes a camera to take an over exposed pic of the plate.

28-2354 - License plates; attachment; civil penalty

28-2354. License plates; attachment; civil penalty

A. A person shall display the license plate or plates as follows:

1. For a motor vehicle, motorcycle, trailer or semitrailer, on the rear.

2. Except as provided in paragraph 3 of this subsection, for a vehicle for which two license plates are issued, the vehicle owner shall display either of the following:

(a) One plate on the rear.

(b) One plate on the front and one plate on the rear.

3. For a vehicle for which two special license plates are issued pursuant to section 28-2409, one plate on the rear of the vehicle and one plate on the operator's wheelchair carrier or wheelchair lift when it is attached to the vehicle.

B. A person shall display all license plates as required by subsection A of this section until their lawful use expires or is canceled or revoked. A person shall maintain each license plate so it is clearly legible. A person shall securely fasten each license plate to the vehicle as follows:

1. To prevent the plate from swinging.

2. At a height of at least twelve inches from the ground to the bottom of the plate.

3. In a position to be clearly visible.

C. A person shall maintain each license plate so that the name of this state at the top of the license plate is not obscured.

D. Unless authorized by the department, a person shall not apply a covering or any substance to the license plate or use an electronic device or electrochromatic film that obscures from any angle the numbers, characters, year validating tabs or name of the jurisdiction issuing the plate.

E. A peace officer shall not stop or issue a citation to a person operating a motor vehicle on a highway in this state for a violation of subsection C of this section unless the peace officer has reasonable cause to believe there is another alleged violation of a motor vehicle law of this state.

F. If a person violates subsection C of this section, the person is subject to a civil penalty of thirty dollars, except that if a person violates subsection C of this section within twelve months after the date of a prior violation of subsection C of this section, the person is subject to a civil penalty of one hundred dollars.

 

[Joe King]

D. Unless authorized by the department, a person shall not apply a covering or any substance to the license plate or use an electronic device or electrochromatic film that obscures from any angle the numbers, characters, year validating tabs or name of the jurisdiction issuing the plate.

Exactly as I said. Anything that covers the letters or numbers, is illegal.

A simple frame around the outside that does not touch the letters or numbers, is ok to use.


We went through all that here too.

If the frame even touched a number or letter, they'd pitch a bitch about t. The thing I'm talking about doesn't do that.

 

[Casey Jones]

Did you note the part about "electronic or electromagnetic"?

The Arizona cops just ticket for anyone with a frame, any frame, around their plates. Mine was black plastic - and I had it on there, not because I love that dealer, but because the cheap aluminum Montana tags, no longer have embosed characters. They have only the stamped borders, and they're not stamped very deeply.

This, while the plates are good indefinitely. But to replace a damaged plate, you have to re-register...the whole fee, all over again.

The stiff, thick plastic stiffens the assembly; but Arizona doesn't like it. No matter what the legislators MEANT, it's being ENFORCED as, nothing around or on the tags. PERIOD.

Including any cute infrared emitters.

It reminds me of those gizmos that were for sale on Ebay for a short time, that would flip your rear tag, James-Bond-style. Cute, on the surface. But computers mean that the cops, once they enter your displayed number (if they don't have a scanner on the cop car; many do) will know in about 3 seconds if the tag belongs on the car. When it comes back inactive or fake or assigned to another car, you're getting a felony stop. "Fictitious Plates." Plus, if you have that Ebay toy, a device intended to conceal registration display.

It ain't worth it. We live in a police-state, but that's not even the worst of it. We live in a CONTROL-FREAK dystopia, and they're also mad for endless fees and fines and charges to be levied.

 

[Viking]

I need a 2-seater so I can carry a Japanese sex robot.

You could just sit on her lap. Or vice versa if she has a small battery.

 

[Joe King]

Did you note the part about "electronic or electromagnetic"?

I don't know, that part still refers to things that "obscures from any angle".

It makes no mention of having to be machine or device readable or detectable.

IR light does nothing to obscure anything from a police officers vision, at any angle. We can't see IR light.

Here though (Texas), they do make a distinction about "detectability" in the law. It also mentions "illuminated devices".

Arizona law appears to make no mention of those things.
.....and perhaps it needs to be tested in court to find out for sure.

When I read laws, I'm always looking from the standpoint of, where is the loophole in this wording? Lol
Because sometimes there can be one in there.


The specific frames I was referring to are sold as a way to add a backup camera to an older vehicle. They have a camera and a row of IR LED's built into it.

All you'd need to do is wire it so the lights are on whenever the car is running.
....and seeing how the lights are invisible to the naked eye, more likely than not you'd be able to get away with it.

An ALPR just won't see a plate there at all if there are no characters it can read.
....but it stays clearly legible to an actual police officer and if a person can't see them, how they gonna know they are emitting IR light?

 

[pmbug]

 

[Casey Jones]

What is this obsession with the idea?

I think I've said it before. The skills are different, an aircraft, versus an automobile. The margins of safety, far different - what is an inconvenience in a car is a crash with an aircraft. The rules of navigation/driving are far different, and MUCH more space is required.

The propulsion equipment is far different, heavier, more involved. Instrumentation far more complex. AND...issues like normal corrosion, from winter road salt, which slowly wear out a car, would quickly destroy an aircraft, even if only driving on wheels. And, the electronic instrumentation required on an aircraft? Bathe it in brine a few weeks, and see how it holds up.

I recall 50 years ago, someone afflicted with the same mental illness Elon Musk now has, made a Pinto into a "flying car." With folding-up wings (which had to be left somewhere, probably not a convenient place, when driving).

The project ended when one folding wing broke in the air, crashing the thing and killing the builder. I don't know if anyone was injured on the ground, or any property destroyed...but yes, that's a consideration also.

I mean...these things are so asinine in concept, they make a Cybertruck look practical by comparison. Just go to the airport...and if you wanna fly yourself, buy a used Cessna.

 

[Viking]

Somali drivers in flying Taxis, I can't wait...

 

[Someone_else]

Just go to the airport...and if you wanna fly yourself, buy a used Cessna.

I did exactly that. I borrowed $10k to give an allowance for unexpected repairs, maintenance, and flight training. I bought a 150 and got my PPSEL in it. I don't remember my flight training costs, but they were probably well under $2k. The flight training cost was probably $20/hour. Which was rather high, but possible at the time.

Added: The flight training was $20/hour, and they offered $10 off when prepaying $200. When I first went to the flight school, I had already studied and passed my private pilot written exam, so they got nothing there. They also seemed "disappointed" when I bought my C150 after only a few hours in the school's C152.