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Airflock to work

The way the birds do it
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[Edited to short description followed by details]
In short: The following is an alternative to land transportation. If people got together and learned how to glide together in formation, similar to the way birds flock, they would only need the energy to reach a certain hight, and glide from there with a wing suit together most of the way. So the morning ride to work would be much more fun AND FASTER and healthier and better - no congestion, much less pollution, and free the roads to wildlife (if any is left).

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Instead of getting into a car then following a thin predefined line directly into a traffic jam, and then slowly advancing to work, or sitting in a stuffed train with people who are no fun to be with, wouldn't it be more thrilling to gather at a field, 100 people and more, who usually go to work on a two hour ride to the same area, and around this hour, then slowly lift off together on a hot air stream, in a circular formation, with a few leaders, using personal super ultralight glider wings. Once you reach enough height, the formation is changed to a giant arrowhead, and either with fly-suits or using the ultralight glider which can change wing form, start swooping down at 270 kph or slowly advancing while loosing height and scanning the horizon until reaching half way. Of course everything is done without breaking the formation, and in full cooperation with the rest of the flock.

Then you can choose to join some other group of people going closer to your real destination. You reach work after a good workout, seeing the world from a birds view, having a great time and showing off your latest stunts. The formations would be controlled with music, similar to what birds do, so you would also have fun singing on the way to work, and it would be functional.

Within a short time, most people would realize that driving a car is no fun, doesn't get you on time anywhere, and just makes an ecological barrier to kill land animals, while emitting light pollution. They would then join the Airflock movement. Of course older people and disabled would use the train, but because it is mostly empty, it would have a gym in it, and besides all land transportation will be replaced by a Shweeb...

Of course, in order to join an airflock you would have to first study at an airflocking course for about a month, and have at least three friends attest to your being compliant to the flocking rules (watching it on YouTube would not be enough, because you have to really experience it).

Occasionally flocking groups get together with an experienced guide for a really thrilling experience of flying with the bird migration. See link.

For driving between coastal cities, especially on days when the weather is too wet and cold, and also for cross ocean travel, groups of divers could get together and migrate with the fish, using dive-bikes. In this case they would probably need protection from sharks and the like: Tiny robot fish that give the sharks an unpleasant sting on their taste buds whenever they get too close to our flock. These protective robofish will be developed by WowWee.

For initial propulsion you may use compressed air balloons filled on the site with bicycle power for about 10 minutes before takeoff.

Another possibility would be to takeoff using a field of "launch balloons": a harness connected to a helium balloon which is tied to an earthbound low cost manual winch. The flock releases itself together. People in a bad mood cannot join the fun. A preliminary mood test of course will be mandatory.

//Shana tova, may you be written in the book of life, for a good long happy and healthy life. Moshe aka Pashute.

pashute, Sep 15 2009

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       L'shanah tovah tikatev v'taihatem.
UnaBubba, Sep 15 2009
  

       vechen lemar [una]!
pashute, Sep 16 2009
  

       was the idea too long this time? please give me real feedback! i don't care about the votes.
pashute, Sep 16 2009
  
      
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