Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Latest By
Category:
Armor
Artificial
Intelligence
Biology
Clothing
Communication
Computers
Culture
Data Storage
Displays
Engineering
Entertainment
Food
Input Devices
Lifestyle
Living Space
Manufacturing
Material
Media
Medical
Miscellaneous
Robotics
Security
Space Tech
Spacecraft
Surveillance
Transportation
Travel
Vehicle
Virtual
Person
Warfare
Weapon
Work
"I myself feel that our country, for whose Constitution I fought in a just war, might as well have been invaded by Martians and body snatchers."
- Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
 |
| Suitcase Airplane | ||
| A diminutive, collapsible, two-passenger biplane. |
The author modestly states that the one-passenger version was even smaller, but the two-passenger version was more popular.
| Placing the ornate suitcase he had brought with him in the middle of the floor, he opened it and took out a compact mass of glistening steel....
This is a two-passenger plane... You will notice that it is folded and telescoped into a compact mass which fits the suitcase nicely. The whole thing weighs less than ten pounds. It is constructed throughout of the latest improved 'Electro-retempererd' steel. The tensile strength of this new metal is so great that, although the wings have been rolled to the thinness of gold plate, they have withstood a factory test of one million pounds to the square inch. Therefore, the other gossamer-like parts, some of which are so delicate that it requires a powerful microscope to detect them, are amply sufficient in actual strength.
 (Suitcase airplane) Now, if I am to make a flight, the first thing I do is pull this little lever; it releases all the catches throughout the entire machine, and the wings promptly unfold and untelescope and snap rigidly into place, while the body also unfolds and untelescopes into its proper shape... Next I take the aviator's seat over here and push this little button. That connects the machinery with the electrons of atomic energy which operate the whole works. Then I pull this little lever marked "Helicopter" which connects that contrivance with the basic power, and starts it to revolving... |
| Technovelgy from Suitcase Airplanes,
by E.D. Skinner. Published by Air Wonder Stories in 1929 Additional resources -
|
Children of the Sixties readily recognize this idea as it was used in the Jetson's cartoon:
Compare to the rollable Hawking mat from Hyperion (1989) by Dan Simmons.
Comment/Join this discussion ( 0 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |
Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from Suitcase Airplanes
More Ideas
and Technology by E.D. Skinner
Tech news articles related to Suitcase Airplanes
Tech news articles related to works by E.D. Skinner
Suitcase Airplane-related
news articles:
- Arma Lunchbox-Sized Folding Electric Scooter
| GoSun EV Solar Charger Drapes Onto Your Car |
| 'Autonomous' Waymo Improves Driving With Remote Human Operators |
| Heinlein’s Controlway - Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) Corridor In Michigan |
| CyberCab - Tesla Renames The Robotaxi |
Want to Contribute an
Item?
It's easy:
Get the name of the item, a
quote, the book's name and the author's name, and Add
it here.
| <Previous | Next> |
|
|
|
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Science Fiction Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
|
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
'What would you do,' Eric asked the robot cabdriver, 'if your wife had turned to stone, your best friend were a toad, and you had lost your job?'
'those suits they wear -- call them 'stillsuits' -- that reclaim the body's own water...'
'Now, except for weight and heat, the same conditions prevail in this chamber as in space.'
'there were so many worms and counterworms loose in the data-net...'
'Now, look, let's start with the three fundamental Rules of Robotics...'
'..the synthetic intellects at the Place of Knowledge had far outstripped the minds of men.'
'But after washing and drying clothes had to be smooth - free from fine lines and wrinkles ...'
