Kitty Hawk Flyer

We recently posted a video showing the latest version of human-carrying experimental aircraft from the company Kitty Hawk. The Flyer, basically an oversized multicopter with 10 motor/rotor units and with a pair of floats to provide operation off water, is a wild combination of an

ATV, a wet bike, and a multirotor drone all wrapped up in a single package. Kitty Hawk is treating the Flyer like an ultralight and says you don’t need a license to operate it. The video shows the 250-pound Flyer operating off of and around the water, and Kitty Hawk is already said to be taking preorders for its new decacopter. And of course, you folks had plenty to say. Graham Crow: Oh, I want one of those soooooo much.

Reid Anderson: LOL! “Never need a license.” I’ll give it a year before the FAA says you have to.

Dennis Hixson: It probably gets about 10 minutes of flight time, then you sit around for an hour or two charging the battery for another 10 minutes. Not worth the money.

K. J. Spearman: Electrics are limited by battery technology, and we know technology nearly doubles every few years, so this will be feasible in the near future.

Keith Green: So why has everyone designing these things never heard of blade guards? Without them it looks to me like a flying Cuisinart.

Kevin Wiley: “No license required.” LOL! Wait until someone flies into Class B airspace.