From: bretcahill@aol.com   
      
   > >>>>> 4.  Increased Safety.  If a fan blade snaps off it can't   
   > >>>>> impale any passengers or critical structures.   
      
   > 5. When the power fails in VTOL mode it won't autorotate, and it won't    
   > glide.   
      
   For a quick pre take off check the pilot first runs the engines at max locked   
   in the launcher.  The plane is only released at a somewhat lower safer RPM   
   still well above take off thrust.  Maximum power is only used for this test   
   and is not necessary or    
   desirable for the rest of a fuel efficient flight.   
      
   The props on an Osprey would hit the runway if they aren't tilted back a   
   little.  The fans are fixed here so, if you don't want 1 story high landing   
   gear, it's the same situation as an Osprey that somehow got rotors stuck in   
   horizontal flight.     
      
   Fans always need to be strong enough to chop up birds, but, without landing   
   gear, they need to disintegrate like tempered glass when they first contact   
   the runway in emergency landings so large shards don't impale passengers in   
   the aft cabin.   
      
      
   Bret Cahill   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
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