Motorcycle pod
Encyclopedia
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
to carry a street-legal motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
in a relatively safe way. After landing, the pilot may remove the motorcycle, unfold the handlebars and ride away. The motorcycle allows pilots to reach off-field destinations and provides one possible solution to the ground transportation problem.
Background
As many airports are located at a comparatively huge distance from the nearest built-up area, pilots of small aircraft require ground transportation to reach most destinations. However, ground transportation services are not always available at small airports. Even where available, ground transportation services are subject to inter-modal delays (i.e. waiting for a bus) that increase trip times. Approximately 19% of pilots currently own motorcycles and the motorcycle pod is intended to provide them with a fun and practical solution.Other proposed solutions include the roadable aircraft, a dual-use vehicle with the ability to both drive and fly. The personal air vehicle
Personal air vehicle
A personal air vehicle or PAV, also personal aerial vehicle, is a class of light general aviation aircraft which meets design and performance goals intended to make flying as commonplace as driving...
might someday utilize an infrastructure of residential airports, allowing pilots to land close to their destinations. VTOL
VTOL
A vertical take-off and landing aircraft is one that can hover, take off and land vertically. This classification includes fixed-wing aircraft as well as helicopters and other aircraft with powered rotors, such as cyclogyros/cyclocopters and tiltrotors...
aircraft may land at the final destination and possibly eliminate the need for ground transportation.
Development
MotoPOD LLC developed the first motorcycle pods in 2007. The prototype motorcycle pods accommodated a modified 225cc motorcycle. The motorcycle could carry a passenger and reach speeds of 85 mph. The pods were constructed from composite materials and attached to the belly of the airplane. An integral winch system assisted with loading/unloading the motorcycle and eliminated heavy lifting. The company has developed a production version for the Vans RV-10 and certified installations are planned for the Cessna 182Cessna 182
The Cessna 182 Skylane is an American four-seat, single-engine, light airplane, built by Cessna of Wichita, Kansas. It has the option of adding two child seats, installed in the baggage area....
and Cirrus SR22
Cirrus SR22
The Cirrus SR22 is a single-engine, four-seat, composite aircraft, built by Cirrus Aircraft starting in 2001. It is a more powerful version of the Cirrus SR20, with a larger wing, higher fuel capacity, and a 310 horsepower engine...
.