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The Skyboard
Skyboard is a one-
person glider that offers
a highly manoeuvrable
alternative to skydiving
It is a 2.3m long capsule, in which a pilot lies face down with hands on controls that offer full flying functions. On being launched from between 10,000ft and 35,000 ft (from either a fixed wing aircraft or helicopter) Skyboard’s front and rear wings, and tail plane are electronically deployed. The pilot, using aileron and elevator control surfaces can then fly the glider before making a wheels-down or parachute-assisted landing.
 Temuka engineer takes flight with remarkable invention
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Inventor overcomes life-threatening illness to attend PATCAD |
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View the Project poster (JPEG format - 465k)
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View the Skyboard fact sheet
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Superior Construction
Almost 100% carbon fibre construction for superior strength/weight ratio. Simplified carbon fibre components constructed using over 40 precision CNC machined moulds, which can be used to reproduce parts indefinitely.
First developed in New Zealand in 2004, the new 2007 Skyboard has been fully wind tunnel and field-tested with remarkable results.
Superior aerodynamics have been achieved by:
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Super-computer modelling and simulation at Canterbury University
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Lowering the pilot out of the air stream
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Improving the nose cone shape and adding extended sides to better guide the flow over the tail plane
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Using wing doors which open and close to let the wings in and out, and work to form a streamlined fuselage once the wings have been deployed
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Improving integration between all components for improved strength, simplicity and ease of assembly
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Increasing cockpit visibility through the incorporation of a larger windshield coupled with an additional floor windshield for helpful ‘birds-eye’ view
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Using strong, lightweight, hollow carbon fibre airfoils using proven German sailplane construction methods
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Employing a simple structural skeleton, consisting of only four carbon fibre components which are bonded together
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Replacing the old mechanical linkage system (which added unnecessary weight and complexity) with a ‘Fly by wire’ control system.
The ‘fly by wire’ system allows infinite tuning possibilities by using compact, hi-torque, zero-deadband digitally controlled servos.
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Sponsors
Microair Avionics is an exciting, technology based,
Australian company developing, manufacturing and
retailing sophisticated avionics products for domestic
and worldwide markets. read more...
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