jedi
Well-Known Member
FYI - this is NOT an endorsement. Buyer beware.
The company web site still promotes the “old design”.
Here is the latest email from Sam at Samson Sky.
NEWSLETTER
August 10, 2024
Enhanced Body Design Wows AirVenture!
We released the new enhanced body design of the Switchblade at AirVenture in late July, which drew an overwhelming number of incredible reviews and positive comments. We were told we won the unofficial "Brown Grass Award" for the amount of trampled grass around our displays.
The Samson Pavilion and Staff AirVenture 2024
Promotional photo URL follows. Additional photos not included.
https://mcusercontent.com/60de01ddf87e7bc9e0f7181ad/images/2ffc7eeb-3898-e924-4156-82b994b27e55.jpg
The Big Reveal
People could not believe that we had pulled off such a remarkable improvement, and validated it in the wind tunnel, in just five months after First Flight. We kept everything that worked from the flying prototype including our signature wing swing that gives the Switchblade its name, and kept the existing wing location. We simplified the tail operation and conversion between ground and flight modes, and the wing is bigger and swept back slightly for aerodynamic reasons.
Maximum Gross Takeoff Weight Increased
The bigger wing allows us to increase the maximum gross takeoff weight of the vehicle to include more fuel, bigger people, and also to reduce our landing speed for greater safety. The new design has a maximum gross take-off weight of 2,600 lb./1,180 kg. The wing area has been increased from 67 square feet to a full 99 square feet. This doesn't even include the lifting area of the body, just the wing. The body provides additional lift, which reduces both the take-off and landing speed. Along with the increase in MGTOW, we increased fuel capacity from 33 gallons to 40 gallons.
Reduced Drag with Improved Tail and Thrusters
We reduced drag with the improved tail and twin thrusters, creating a more aerodynamic body. This reduced drag allowed us to validate that we had adequate thrust to propel the Switchblade to our projected cruise speed of 160 mph/258 km/hr. In Ground Mode, the tail structure and twin thrusters fixed to the tail boom stow away completely within the rear hatch area of the vehicle.
On the ground, it looks more like a sports car than ever! We have a bit more styling to accomplish with the body, but meanwhile the main wing and tail are undergoing structural design and systems design on the path for parts production. Our goal is to have our first of three production prototypes built before next year's AirVenture. We displayed the wind tunnel model at AirVenture as well, which helped people visualize the design changes and conclude we are the real deal. You can see the1/4 scale model in the image below.
Simpler Construction Brings Switchblade Closer to Production
Did I mention the new design looks absolutely cool? It is such an improvement in looks and function of the enhanced design has been met with overwhelming acceptance. Those who loved the original Switchblade were even more pleased with the new direction we are going for production vehicles. With the incredible progress we've made, we are ahead of the game with this enhanced design, due to the improvements in the function and much simpler construction of the body and tail.
I think you will admit that what you see is strikingly beautiful. And that is only a part of what this enhancement has given us. You can see the animation of the tail and wing retraction in the video below, which will pop up in a new window so just open this window again to continue reading.
Tail Retraction More Robust
The tail retraction is simpler than before, and the changes will increase the speed of assembly and reduce maintenance. For instance, a swiveling boom is much more easily accomplished than the rolling boom in the original design. It is swiveled, always connected, and simply pinned in the retracted or the extended state. No adjustments required by becoming out of alignment.
The swinging horizontals mimic the swinging wings and should be just as reliable. When we first showed the world our swinging wing at AirVenture in 2017, we had the wing swing continuously in motion throughout the weeklong event. When we added it all up, we had put 10 years use on the wing swing without a single failure and hardly any wear. We expect the same from the tail swing.
Interior Space Increase
Along with the improvements in aerodynamics and performance, the interiors are also being upgraded to allow the original design more room from side-to-side. More room for people, elbows, coffee cups - the usual! The front trunk or 'frunk' is still large enough for roller bags or traveling golf club sets. Storage behind the seats has been limited a bit, but space is still there for personal items.
The side windows have been increased in size to provide better visibility and greater safety. We are engaging automotive designers to complete the interior and exterior design prior to making molds, while working on wings and tail that are already fixed in design and not subject to change.
The Eyes Forward Display (functions as a digital dash for Ground Mode, and changes to include critical aviation information for Flight Mode) is being revised slightly to present a fresh but familiar round dial instrument cluster that is easy to read at a glance for most people. We found that as nice as the futuristic tape displays are to look at, the function in normal use requires a display that can be easily read and understood at a glance. We still plan on including driver adjustable color schemes both to match interior choices, and also to accommodate people with color blindness. More on this to come!
More Pilots on the Way
One misconception we have run across is the idea that some people may not purchase a Switchblade because they have to get a private pilot certificate, or that becoming a pilot is hard to accomplish. Recent data sheds a new light on this, as for the last 10 years the number of student pilots has grown more than 2.5 times. This follows the news and fact that we are retiring many pilots from airline positions who are aging out, and the attraction of the salary and prestige of being a commercial airline pilot has brought a surge of new pilots into training.
Why this relates is that this shows that if there is a reason to learn to fly, there are people willing to do it. It just takes a good reason. Flying is not that hard to do, nor is it particularly difficult to accomplish. You do have to commit and do the training as a priority. Then the success rate drastically increases, and the cost of training goes down.
Many people over the years have told us that they will get their pilot certificate in order to have and use a Switchblade. Our marketing surveys of Regional Travelers (those who take trips of 200-500 miles) showed that 80% of the people who were willing to pay the price of a Switchblade (and would spend a week at the factory to get that price) were also willing to get a pilot certificate in order to use the Switchblade to improve their lifestyle. This seems to be backed up by the student pilot increase statistics, and so we find it credible.
Samson has embarked on the path to provide Switchblade flight training, and private pilot training, in a program specific for the Switchblade. We encourage people to get their Switchblade and use it for pilot training, as it will reduce the cost of pilot training in half. You also learn in the vehicle that you intend to fly, which is really ideal. Much more efficient and comfortable than learning on one or more planes and then doing a transition to the Switchblade afterwards. We feel that the Switchblade will be easier to learn with and has additional safety features built in, not found on typical training aircraft, that make flight safer for new pilots.
What Do You Get When You Deposit?
Anyone can Reserve with no money down, but when you make a Deposit, you are moved to an early fixed delivery slot. This is ahead of the Reservations who haven't put a Deposit down yet. When a Reservation Holder wants a firm early position, they will make a Deposit using their existing Reservation Number, and be assigned the next available delivery position. You can Deposit or Reserve HERE.
Investment Opportunity Opened for Accredited Investors Only
Samson has opened our first major fundraising for large investment to get the Switchblade into production. This is called a Reg D Series A (first major fundraise), and we are VERY pleased with the response and interest. This particular investment is reserved for Accredited Investors only due to the type of this raise. If you ever wondered whether you qualified as an Accredited Investor, you can check out the requirements here:
What Is An Accredited Investor? – Forbes Advisor
To learn more about this opportunity, please use the Investor Inquiry form on the website:
https://www.samsonsky.com/investors/
Want to see the historic first flight? Here it is:
SEE WHAT ALL THE EXCITEMENT IS ALL ABOUT REGARDING THE WORLD'S FIRST FLYING SPORTS CAR
Latest Hot Press Coverage
Yahoo! Finance
Flying Cars Coming to the State of Minnesota?
New Transportation Law Passed in Minnesota Includes Provisions for Flying Cars
IOT World Today (IOT=Internet of Things)
Flying Sports Car Switchblade Redesign Introduced
The redesigned vehicle has a sleeker body and a decreased takeoff and landing speed
Sam Bousfield
Captain, Switchblade Team
The company web site still promotes the “old design”.
Here is the latest email from Sam at Samson Sky.
NEWSLETTER
August 10, 2024
Enhanced Body Design Wows AirVenture!
We released the new enhanced body design of the Switchblade at AirVenture in late July, which drew an overwhelming number of incredible reviews and positive comments. We were told we won the unofficial "Brown Grass Award" for the amount of trampled grass around our displays.
The Samson Pavilion and Staff AirVenture 2024
Promotional photo URL follows. Additional photos not included.
https://mcusercontent.com/60de01ddf87e7bc9e0f7181ad/images/2ffc7eeb-3898-e924-4156-82b994b27e55.jpg
The Big Reveal
People could not believe that we had pulled off such a remarkable improvement, and validated it in the wind tunnel, in just five months after First Flight. We kept everything that worked from the flying prototype including our signature wing swing that gives the Switchblade its name, and kept the existing wing location. We simplified the tail operation and conversion between ground and flight modes, and the wing is bigger and swept back slightly for aerodynamic reasons.
Maximum Gross Takeoff Weight Increased
The bigger wing allows us to increase the maximum gross takeoff weight of the vehicle to include more fuel, bigger people, and also to reduce our landing speed for greater safety. The new design has a maximum gross take-off weight of 2,600 lb./1,180 kg. The wing area has been increased from 67 square feet to a full 99 square feet. This doesn't even include the lifting area of the body, just the wing. The body provides additional lift, which reduces both the take-off and landing speed. Along with the increase in MGTOW, we increased fuel capacity from 33 gallons to 40 gallons.
Reduced Drag with Improved Tail and Thrusters
We reduced drag with the improved tail and twin thrusters, creating a more aerodynamic body. This reduced drag allowed us to validate that we had adequate thrust to propel the Switchblade to our projected cruise speed of 160 mph/258 km/hr. In Ground Mode, the tail structure and twin thrusters fixed to the tail boom stow away completely within the rear hatch area of the vehicle.
On the ground, it looks more like a sports car than ever! We have a bit more styling to accomplish with the body, but meanwhile the main wing and tail are undergoing structural design and systems design on the path for parts production. Our goal is to have our first of three production prototypes built before next year's AirVenture. We displayed the wind tunnel model at AirVenture as well, which helped people visualize the design changes and conclude we are the real deal. You can see the1/4 scale model in the image below.
Simpler Construction Brings Switchblade Closer to Production
Did I mention the new design looks absolutely cool? It is such an improvement in looks and function of the enhanced design has been met with overwhelming acceptance. Those who loved the original Switchblade were even more pleased with the new direction we are going for production vehicles. With the incredible progress we've made, we are ahead of the game with this enhanced design, due to the improvements in the function and much simpler construction of the body and tail.
I think you will admit that what you see is strikingly beautiful. And that is only a part of what this enhancement has given us. You can see the animation of the tail and wing retraction in the video below, which will pop up in a new window so just open this window again to continue reading.
Tail Retraction More Robust
The tail retraction is simpler than before, and the changes will increase the speed of assembly and reduce maintenance. For instance, a swiveling boom is much more easily accomplished than the rolling boom in the original design. It is swiveled, always connected, and simply pinned in the retracted or the extended state. No adjustments required by becoming out of alignment.
The swinging horizontals mimic the swinging wings and should be just as reliable. When we first showed the world our swinging wing at AirVenture in 2017, we had the wing swing continuously in motion throughout the weeklong event. When we added it all up, we had put 10 years use on the wing swing without a single failure and hardly any wear. We expect the same from the tail swing.
Interior Space Increase
Along with the improvements in aerodynamics and performance, the interiors are also being upgraded to allow the original design more room from side-to-side. More room for people, elbows, coffee cups - the usual! The front trunk or 'frunk' is still large enough for roller bags or traveling golf club sets. Storage behind the seats has been limited a bit, but space is still there for personal items.
The side windows have been increased in size to provide better visibility and greater safety. We are engaging automotive designers to complete the interior and exterior design prior to making molds, while working on wings and tail that are already fixed in design and not subject to change.
The Eyes Forward Display (functions as a digital dash for Ground Mode, and changes to include critical aviation information for Flight Mode) is being revised slightly to present a fresh but familiar round dial instrument cluster that is easy to read at a glance for most people. We found that as nice as the futuristic tape displays are to look at, the function in normal use requires a display that can be easily read and understood at a glance. We still plan on including driver adjustable color schemes both to match interior choices, and also to accommodate people with color blindness. More on this to come!
More Pilots on the Way
One misconception we have run across is the idea that some people may not purchase a Switchblade because they have to get a private pilot certificate, or that becoming a pilot is hard to accomplish. Recent data sheds a new light on this, as for the last 10 years the number of student pilots has grown more than 2.5 times. This follows the news and fact that we are retiring many pilots from airline positions who are aging out, and the attraction of the salary and prestige of being a commercial airline pilot has brought a surge of new pilots into training.
Why this relates is that this shows that if there is a reason to learn to fly, there are people willing to do it. It just takes a good reason. Flying is not that hard to do, nor is it particularly difficult to accomplish. You do have to commit and do the training as a priority. Then the success rate drastically increases, and the cost of training goes down.
Many people over the years have told us that they will get their pilot certificate in order to have and use a Switchblade. Our marketing surveys of Regional Travelers (those who take trips of 200-500 miles) showed that 80% of the people who were willing to pay the price of a Switchblade (and would spend a week at the factory to get that price) were also willing to get a pilot certificate in order to use the Switchblade to improve their lifestyle. This seems to be backed up by the student pilot increase statistics, and so we find it credible.
Samson has embarked on the path to provide Switchblade flight training, and private pilot training, in a program specific for the Switchblade. We encourage people to get their Switchblade and use it for pilot training, as it will reduce the cost of pilot training in half. You also learn in the vehicle that you intend to fly, which is really ideal. Much more efficient and comfortable than learning on one or more planes and then doing a transition to the Switchblade afterwards. We feel that the Switchblade will be easier to learn with and has additional safety features built in, not found on typical training aircraft, that make flight safer for new pilots.
What Do You Get When You Deposit?
Anyone can Reserve with no money down, but when you make a Deposit, you are moved to an early fixed delivery slot. This is ahead of the Reservations who haven't put a Deposit down yet. When a Reservation Holder wants a firm early position, they will make a Deposit using their existing Reservation Number, and be assigned the next available delivery position. You can Deposit or Reserve HERE.
Investment Opportunity Opened for Accredited Investors Only
Samson has opened our first major fundraising for large investment to get the Switchblade into production. This is called a Reg D Series A (first major fundraise), and we are VERY pleased with the response and interest. This particular investment is reserved for Accredited Investors only due to the type of this raise. If you ever wondered whether you qualified as an Accredited Investor, you can check out the requirements here:
What Is An Accredited Investor? – Forbes Advisor
To learn more about this opportunity, please use the Investor Inquiry form on the website:
https://www.samsonsky.com/investors/
Want to see the historic first flight? Here it is:
SEE WHAT ALL THE EXCITEMENT IS ALL ABOUT REGARDING THE WORLD'S FIRST FLYING SPORTS CAR
Latest Hot Press Coverage
Yahoo! Finance
Flying Cars Coming to the State of Minnesota?
New Transportation Law Passed in Minnesota Includes Provisions for Flying Cars
IOT World Today (IOT=Internet of Things)
Flying Sports Car Switchblade Redesign Introduced
The redesigned vehicle has a sleeker body and a decreased takeoff and landing speed
Sam Bousfield
Captain, Switchblade Team
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