:: Perhaps what these people are doing isn't snake oil, just your
:: explanation
:: of it ("using the air itself") makes it seem that way?

Yes, my explanation was crap.

A Manta Ray glides through the water in a very energy efficient way, due in=
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part to it's shape and the way it twists its' 'wings'. What the research=20
institute have designed is a hydrogen filled structure shaped like a Ray,=20
with wing tips and a tail that can mimic the essential body movements in=20
air that the Ray uses in water.

The structure requires two 4 channel radio controlled transmitters to=20
replicate the momements.  They have these devices 'flying' around the=20
research centres buildings.  They hope to use what they learn to make=20
planes more fuel efficient by changing their shape and so they said,=20
because they plan to have moving wings and tail, less powerful engines will=
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be needed.

At the moment they appear to be cheating as they are relying on hydrogen to=
=20
get them afloat and thereafter the Manta motion flies them.  I'm not sure=20
people would be that thrilled to sit in a plane where the wing tips=20
'ripple' at the edges and where the tail of the fuselage does a whale type=
=20
impressions. OTOH whilst this and many of the inventions shown (such as the=
=20
Dutchman and his self walking beach creatures) seem bizzare and of no=20
purpose, I'm sure they could prove a catalyst for other more down to earth=
=20
inventions. The fly powered clock for example is being used to develop bio=
=20
mass fuel cells for power.=20

Colin
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cdb, colin@btech-online.co.uk on 17/01/2011
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Web presence: www.btech-online.co.uk =20
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Hosted by:  www.justhost.com.au
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