September 5, 2009
Forget Wind and Green, This Is the Economic Gimmick for Rhode Island!
What Rhode Islander doesn't read this and think, "I want one"?
Ken Andrade's 1964 Amphicar 770 has a unique set of instructions pasted on the dashboard:"Warning — Before Boating:
1. Put bilge plug in.
2. Secure front luggage deck.
3. Use lower locks to seal doors."
The instructions serve as a reminder to properly seal the two-door convertible before driving it into the water for a spin.
Multiple states are striving to become the hotspot for the "green industry," but I've yet to hear of any competition to become the global hub of amphibious automobiles. And Rhode Island is perfectily situated, if you ask me. Think of the ease of hopping from Little Compton to Newport to Jamestown to Narragansett, or from Tiverton to Portsmouth to Bristol to Warwick. These towns all sound distant from each other, but in a road vehicle that could slide effortlessly into water, the state would be much more easily traversed.
And we'd save millions in bridge repair (which the state historically accomplishes, it seems, via full bridge replacement).
If memory serves me right, the Dutch, in the 1960's made an amphibious car dubbed "The DAF" (Dutch Auto Factory?). It never caught on.
Attempts to revive can accurately be labeled "JUSTIN'S DAFFY ADVENTURE", a la Ferris Bueller.
Here we have another instance of an irrational man, with irrational idea. Let's spend our resources on automobile traffic in Narragansett Bay while we ignore the crying shame of our creaky and outmoded health care system.
OldTimeLefty
If memory serves me right, the Dutch, in the 1960's made an amphibious car dubbed "The DAF" (Dutch Auto Factory?). It never caught on.
Attempts to revive can accurately be labeled "JUSTIN'S DAFFY ADVENTURE", a la Ferris Bueller.
Here we have another instance of an irrational man, with irrational idea. Let's spend our resources on automobile traffic in Narragansett Bay while we ignore the crying shame of our creaky and outmoded health care system.
OldTimeLefty
Justin,
South Carolina has already captured the market for amphibious cars, off-road vehicles, buses and amphibious motor coach/yacht.
There have also been TV features about the South Carolina company and they also market a green trike that was on TV.
Cool Amphibious Manufacturers International, LLC
714 Okeetee Road
Ridgeland, South Carolina 29936
(843)-717-2444
Fax: (843)-717-2424
info@camillc.com
For photos and specs go to either company web site.
http://www.camillc.com
http://www.terrawind.com/index.html
Shoot. Maybe the plane-car industry is still open.
Posted by: Justin Katz at September 5, 2009 6:28 PMJustin,
I don’t think so!
This pass year (2008) the airplane car successfully plied the roads, transitioned into a airplane and flew obtaining cursing altitude and performing maneuvers.
Terrafugia was founded in 2006 by award-winning MIT-trained aeronautical engineers and MBA's.
5 Cranes Court
Woburn, MA, USA 01801
T: +1-781-491-0812
F: +1-781-491-0282
Photos and more information go to web site:
http://www.terrafugia.com/
Well, maybe individual space pods. I'm just trying to think like an RI legislator.
Posted by: Justin Katz at September 5, 2009 7:20 PMJustin,
Commercial space travel might be doable but RI has a hard time even trying to lengthen T.F. Green main runway.
That’s why I have to fly in and out of Boston Logan making only one stop to change planes instead of three stops flying out of T.F. Green.
The Warwick train station with walkway link is a nice idea but Amtrak will not stop and you have to wait for MA MBTA train from Boston and so far no train will be going to Quonset Point which would make the only combined airport, rail, bus and cruise line or ferry dockage link in the nation.
State of Hawaii is submitting paperwork for a commercial spaceport on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Posted by: Ken at September 5, 2009 7:54 PMOTL,
Why stop at healthcare? Let's involve the cap-and-trade bill too, and decree that no more technical innovation is to be allowed, until government can control the weather.
Ken,
Terrafugia was supposedly looking at Rhode Island as a potential site last year, but I haven't heard of any recent developments on this front.
Andrew,
Your leap of "logic" is too far too quickly. What is it they say about the person who rushes in where angels fear to tread?
OldTimeLefty
Andrew,
According to Terrafugia web site 2009 orders are complete and 2010 orders are closing with production models being delivered in 2011.
Looks like RI and RIEDC was not attractive to them!