Company Bills The Vehicle A 'Flying Motorcycle'

It's the kind of a thing that you might have expected to show up in a James Bond or Batman movie, and yet Samson Motor Works says it is developing the Switchblade as an Experimental class kit aircraft that is currently in the prototype phase. Anticipated kit price is roughly $60,000 without engine or avionics, resulting in an overall completed price of around $80,000. The target date for the first flight is early 2010, with kit deliveries expected for later the same year.

The composite frame with steel keel will be provided as a kit aircraft meeting the newest FAA guidelines. State of the art fully equipped Assembly Assistance Centers will provide expert training and guidance to help reduce build time and ensure proper construction. Switchblade MMV Learning Centers are being established to provide valuable training experience for learning how to drive and fly this unique Multi-Mode-Vehicle to take full advantage of its capabilities.

Marketed as a "Multi-Mode Vehicle", Sampson envisions you'll be able to drive to a nearby airport, extend the wings and fly to an airport close to your destination at 160 MPH, then retract the wings after landing and drive to the final destination enjoying the fun and exhilaration of a power to weight ratio rivaling a Ferrari California. The company says they expect that on the ground, the Switchblade is targeted for 60 plus MPG and in the air is anticipated to achieve 22 MPG at 130 MPH, operating on automotive fuel.

That doesn't sound so bad.

An engineering mock-up will be revealed for the first time at the Oshkosh. This full sized mock-up has an operable wing swing mechanism and will provide the opportunity for attendees to sit in the cabin and get a sense of the vehicle's size and orientation.

The culmination of many years of design experience, research and study, the Switchblade is the brainchild of successful inventor, Sam Bousfield. According to Sam, this innovative concept is intended to be relaxing and fun to fly. The innovative three-surface design with main wings in the back serves a dual purpose. The first is to keep the center of mass low and to the rear so the potential for overturning in the ground mode is minimized. Another important advantage of the three-surface design is its stall resistant characteristics providing an added margin of slow-flight performance and predictable flight handling.

"We are homing in on the Holy Grail of vehicles," says Sam. "Outstanding performance, sleek styling and fuel efficiency, along with low emissions and undeniable versatility. It all adds up to a whole new era of green transportation."

FMI: http://samsonmotorworks.com/