Sunday November 07, 2004 Omni - where are they now? (January 1989)
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Another in the series of posts trying to find out what happened to the things described in interesting articles in old editions of the Omni magazine. (Previous posts: [1], [2]). |
- Skycycle: This described a 306 pound, kit-assembled personal
gyroplane, the Daki 530Z/IKENGA, which could cruise at 93 mph, climb
1,400 feet per minute to a ceiling of 14,500 feet and had a range of
315 nautical miles. Options included two-seater, full-body enclosure
and equipment pods, just in case you had some crops you'd like to
spray. It sold (in 1989) for $10,000.
The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum has an article on what happened to it.
- Teeltotaler Cars: "A new electronic device will prevent drunk
drivers from turning on their cars. Called the Guardian Interlock
Ignition System, the instrument links a hand-held breath analyser
to a sensor and microcomputer wired to the car's ignition system.
To start the car, a driver must first breathe into the analyser.
If their blood alcohol level is above the legal limit, the car won't
start".
Looks like this has been a big success and Guardian Interlock are still around.
This approach though reminds me of that Jack in the Box commercial. You know the one; "Dude, can you score me some coleslaw?" I have visions of drunk people asking sober passers-by to start their cars for them. "Dude, can you blow into this for me?"
( Nov 07 2004, 03:32:54 AM PST ) [Listen] Permalink Comments [2]
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