That always looked like a workable idea to me; the ducts would not only increase the lifting efficiency, but make it possible to move among trees without worrying about blade damage from hitting branches.
This gizmo will be a lot of fun if its inventor can make it work safely: http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/06/die-smiling-on-this-hoverbike/
Sort of a small scale Piasecki VZ-8 Airgeep crossed with an Imperial Speeder Bike.
That always looked like a workable idea to me; the ducts would not only increase the lifting efficiency, but make it possible to move among trees without worrying about blade damage from hitting branches.
This gizmo will be a lot of fun if its inventor can make it work safely:
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/06/die-smiling-on-this-hoverbike/
Sort of a small scale Piasecki VZ-8 Airgeep crossed with an Imperial Speeder Bike.