Our task is creation of hybrid aircrafts which could ride on roads as regular motorcycles and, if necessary, make flights, as gyroplanes (autogyros) on significant distances. In the absence of need (for example at usual driving around the city where the flights are forbidden) the pilot can remove or fold up the flight mechanisms and make moving, as he drive a regular motorcycle. In case of long distance travel the pilot installs mechanisms necessary for flight, comes to a platform which is convenient for take-off, makes ten-minute setup of the devices and carries out take-off.
The drafting of hybrid motorcycles is including:
1 . The technologies, used in modern autogyros and modern motorcycles;
2 . The technologies, used at creation of ducted propellers;
3 . The new patented technology, which is allowing to transfer rotation from an axis of a wheel of the motorcycle to the ducted propellers;
4 . The new patented technology, which is allowing to exercise control of the hybrid device by means of a handle bar of motorcycle;
5 . The innovative design solutions, which is defining the new configuration of the aircraft and allowing ergonomically to combine motorcycle and autogyro elements.
1 . The aircraft can ride on roads as the regular two-wheeled motorcycle, and for flight the aircraft will have an autogyro rotor, and also the ducted propellers with rudders. It is known that the lifting power of an autogyro is provided by the rotor rotation in an autorotation mode. The hybrid motorcycles will use also similar rotors with preliminary rotation system. The thrust, which is necessary for flight, will be created by two ducted propellers. The mass of the hybrid motorcycle will be considerably lowered by using of carbon fabrics in the discs of wheels, in the frame, in the ducted propellers and other parts of the aircraft. These technologies are usually applied in modern sports motorcycles. Calculations show that the mass of the heaviest ducted propeller with a hub won't exceed 5,5 kg.
2 . The ducted propellers have advantage in front of ordinary propellers in the range of speeds, which are necessary for flight of the aircraft (30-170 km/h). Static thrust of the ducted propeller is 30% more, than at the simple propeller of similar diameter. Also the calculations show, that in the necessary range of speeds the resistance of rings of ducted propellers of chosen diameters very slightly influences on dynamic thrust.
3. During the production of hybrid motorcycles the recently patented technology, which is allowing to transfer rotation from an axis of a back wheel of the motorcycle to the ducted propellers, will be used. Thus a little changes will be made to a basic design of the motorcycle while considerable advantages in flight characteristics will be reached. First, the vector of thrust will come down, much below, than practically at all existing autogyros, this changing will increase stability of the aircraft in air. It means, that it is possible to arrange the center of masses below. Having arranged the engine below, we will achieve bigger stability of the hybrid motorcycle when he ride on road. Secondly, vibrations from an internal combustion engine will be absorbed by system which consist of: motorcycle chain, shock-absorbers of a big rear wheel and a rear wheel. It allows to use the ducted propellers without fears of their breakage. Thirdly, similar placement of power elements will allow, at sufficient experience of the pilot, significantly to reduce a take-off distance. After electric pre-rotation of the rotor the pilot can begin running in a "land mode" of the motorcycle, and then switch the motorcycle chain to the ducted propellers. Thus the take-off distance, at known experience of the pilot, can be reduced from tens to a few meters only. Fourthly, the system from two ducted propellers located on each side of the aircraft, has bigger efficiency in comparison with the big similar propeller, which is behind the pilot, because of the ducted propellers aren't covered with a body of the pilot or body of the aircraft and the air flow occurs more intensively to them. Fifthly, the rudders are not covered too and located at sufficient distance from the center of masses, it means that the aircraft will be more maneuverable, than usual autogyros. Sixthly, the aircraft has no harmful jet moments when increase or reduction of supply of fuel is occur as the ducted propellers will rotate in the counter directions. It means that the aircraft will have a big cross stability, than at a usual autogyro. Seventhly, the ducted propellers work much more silently, than the ordinary big propeller as ducts absorb a sound. Eighthly, the ducted propellers is safer, than the ordinary big propeller as it is impossible to injure any person who has incidentally appeared by a row.
4 . For convenience of driving of the hybrid motorcycle there was decided to refuse pedals for driving of tail plumage and the handle for driving of the rotor, which are usually applied in autogyros. Recently patented technology allows to exclude them. Before take-off the motorcycle handle bar will be transferred to a flight mode quickly, thus, there will appear a possibility of inclinations of a handle bar of the hybrid motorcycle. Turns of the handle bar will cause not only turns of a forward wheel, but also turns of tail plumage. Inclinations of the handle bar will cause changes of the planes of rotation of a rotor. Thus, the control system of the hybrid motorcycle will be intuitively clear even to the person not connected with aviation.
5 . At creation of hybrid motorcycles the innovative design solutions will be applied:
- to arrange a thrust vector so that it passed through the center of masses,
- to use rudders of the aircraft ergonomically,
- to place a rotor ergonomically,
- to make the horizontal stabilizer self attachable.
Creation of a line of the hybrid motorcycles is planned. Generally the system "rear wheel - engine - ducted propeller" will be changing.
So, we can use light ducted propellers and the engine with low power. Calculations show that we can use easy and economic engine (for example, "Simonini-mini 3", the power of 36 h.p., fuel consumption 3 liters per hour). It means that this aircraft won't be so dynamic, but will be able to overcome long distances in flight without refueling.
We can use also installation of rather powerful, but also more expensive engine (for example, Limbach L550E, 50 h.p.). It means that the hybrid motorcycle will be rather dynamic on the road and in the air, will be capable to carry out very short combined take-off (start by means of the drive on a rear wheel, then chain switching on the ducted propellers), but will overcome, however, smaller distances at one gas station in flight.
