That dangerous-looking propeller/catamaran thing? It’s taking a team of 11 researchers on a trip that will cover 3,600 miles of the Antarctic surface as part of the (awesomely named) Moon Regan Transantarctic Expedition.
That thing is pointy, loud, and fast… and you know you want one. Find out more about this biofuel-burning ice-rider, after the jump.
This vehicle—designed by Lotus and driven by an ethanol-fueled Rotax boxer aero engine—will lead the way from Antarctica’s Patriot Hills as the Moon Regan Expedition heads to the South Pole (following the path of the historic Fuchs and Hillary crossing) before heading to McMurdo through the Trans-Antarctic Mountain Range.
Scientists riding in the ice machine hope to examine the impact of global climate change on Antarctica (which is boring compared to the device they’re doing it in) while setting new overland speed records for Antarctic crossings (which is awesome).
To break that record, the team hopes to put a new Rotax 914 engine to good use, spinning a three-blade variable-pitch propeller which has to push a bantam-like 675 kilograms on three independently-suspended skis. The 100+ hp engine should have no trouble averaging speeds in excess of 80 mph, while a GPS-enhanced radar system detects voids in the ice, below …
…which, supposedly, is the point. (wink, wink – nudge, nudge)
SOURCE: Wired Autopia.
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About Jo Borras
The only problem with this story is that the part about the Rotax engine is wrong — the engine used in this vehicle is pretty obviously a 2-cylinder BMW boxer engine.
Sincerely, Neil
The only problem with this story is that the part about the Rotax engine is wrong — the engine used in this vehicle is pretty obviously a 2-cylinder BMW boxer engine.
Sincerely, Neil
The only problem with this story is that the part about the Rotax engine is wrong — the engine used in this vehicle is pretty obviously a 2-cylinder BMW boxer engine.
Sincerely, Neil
In the press release (linked as “source”) they state that the BMW engine has been swapped to a Rotax. Seemed overly complicated to explain that, so I left it out. (Plus, I’m a Rotax fan, so BMW can sue me. LOL!)
In the press release (linked as “source”) they state that the BMW engine has been swapped to a Rotax. Seemed overly complicated to explain that, so I left it out. (Plus, I’m a Rotax fan, so BMW can sue me. LOL!)
In the press release (linked as “source”) they state that the BMW engine has been swapped to a Rotax. Seemed overly complicated to explain that, so I left it out. (Plus, I’m a Rotax fan, so BMW can sue me. LOL!)