The Hammerhead: Is this the flying car we've been waiting for?
The Moller SkyCar. The Terrafugia. The Alfa Romeo Spix flying concept car. All three of these winged machina have been dangled in our faces like a carrot at the end of an impossibly long stick. Jeff Allen Case is hoping he'll be the first to deliver on the promise of flying cars with his Hammerhead prototype. He's a few steps behind the Moller SkyCar and Terrafugia, having only a couple renderings of the Hammerhead and a spec sheet that exists on paper only. The Hammerhead has a three-fan configuration with two forward fans that tilt for both lift and thrust. Though we weren't told what engine would power the Hammerhead, Case says he expects a top speed of 250 mph at 8,000 ft. with a range of 300 miles. It both takes off and lands vertically, and Case claims the vehicle is characterized by being lightweight, easy to operate, safe and fast. The renderings show a one-seater cockpit, but the production version would seat two in tandem. Of course, a production version is the next step that the Hammerhead won't reach until Case finds some funding. He's hoping Jay-Z or P. Diddy might be interested in supplying the Benjamins needed to put the Hammerhead in production, but we suggest he go for that second mortgage and enter his design in NASA's Personal Air Vehicle Challenge. Perhaps he can catch the attention of some deep pockets at DARPA.
Follow the jump for an additional high resolution shot of the Hammerhead.
[Source: Jeff Allen Case]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
jules 4:15AM (1/24/2008)
How can I contact Jeff Allen Case?Or John Neff?
Because I want more informations about this "car".
Notably on the engine and
propellers.
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The3Dmodeler. 7:50PM (4/01/2008)
Look's cool but it's not my taste. It's just to wide. Would you by any chance post the 3D file. For modelers just to get an idea as a reference and stuff (You can copy right it so no one uses it as a commercial use:))
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Entrepreneur 12:37PM (5/11/2008)
This is cool! It shouldn't be that hard for Jeff to find angel investors. Jeff should first create a solid business plan and search for accredited investors on Go Big Network.com, Funding Universe.com, or Genesis Exchange.com. Another option would be to form a C corporation and sell stocks publicly (IPO).
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Jeff Case 11:00AM (5/18/2008)
I'm Jeff, the designer of the Hammerhead. This is a concept and design study. There currently is not a prototype, scale model or any details regarding the engineering. I am an artist and vtol enthusiast, not an aeronautics/aviation engineer. However, I invite anyone to email me. If you have a few million to invest in R&D, please contact me. You can reach me at jc_in_az @ hotmail.com.
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jowkar 1:48PM (6/28/2008)
if u need an investor i can be an investor
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hovercarboy123 7:13PM (11/14/2008)
If they do invent this, they should have some kind of radar that would show where other cars were or make it really strong from the inside and outside so you wouldn't feel a thing when you got hit. I think they should make it bigger too.
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Hamud 8:03AM (11/12/2006)
It looks like a ship from Half Life 2.
Anyway, looks nice and functional.
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cFoo 11:17AM (11/12/2006)
Humanity is not ready for the flying car.
Heck, half of us still can't drive in the dark if the car doesn't have "automatic on" headlights.
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jacob 11:35AM (11/12/2006)
If it only seats two then what's the point? make it bigger, and if it's cheap enough, it might find a market, but I think we'll never have a truly practical flying car until we invent antigravity or something
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Andalib Danandeh 11:50AM (11/12/2006)
looks like the body acts as its own wing. I hope the thing doesn't rely on its rear fan too much, you know what that means. I think the two front engines just change direction but they could probably bail you out if the rear fan is in a jam.
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Andalib Danandeh 11:50AM (11/12/2006)
what you need is mercedes benz's distronic cruise control LOL!
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retsel 11:57AM (11/12/2006)
take this 2 warrrrrrrr
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Johnny B 1:05PM (11/12/2006)
Yeah, nice drawing...And that's all it is...
I agree with #2, we are not ready for a flying car when most people can't even drive on the ground...!
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Tiago do Vale 1:22PM (11/12/2006)
#3:
This will not compete with common cars: it will be more expensive, less versatile, but good to make huge distances faster: a bit like the first GTs, made for the wealthy europeans to travel between the "Riviera" and their home countries, in empty highways by night.
I imagine that this sort of "flying-cars" will not evolve too many driving skill: I bet it would depend on a quite automated flight.
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Andy Rooney is an Idiot 1:31PM (11/12/2006)
This is not the flying car I have been waiting for.
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FSCCAracer 1:21PM (11/12/2006)
I'm sure ANY flying car would be fully automated (or close to it). Its going to have to be hybrid/electric or a combo. I can't imagine it will get any kind acceptable gas mileage using a turbine or normal engine. Cool idea that will happen eventually!!
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the dude 2:57PM (11/12/2006)
stick some machine guns/lasers on it and you have the Hunter-Killer from Terminator... hmmmmmmm
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nb 6:14PM (11/12/2006)
does it have vtec HAH. no.
looks cool though
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UpIrons 1:08PM (11/13/2006)
I don't think we need flying cars at all. What we need are hover cars that allow us to go over any terrain without wear and tear on roads or grass or whatever you hover over. Imagine how much we would save on road maintenance, especially in winter when cities spend millions trying to clear snow and ice for every storm. Hovering over ice would perform the same as any other surface so weather related accidents would no longer be an issue.
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rocketpunch 1:11PM (11/13/2006)
How much are gas now?? Right! I am sure this thing runs on water.
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