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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On the subject of teetotal cars, see this story in the Guardian newspaper today. Better check back again in... oh, let's say twenty years....
Posted by Geoff Arnold on November 07, 2004 at 07:02 AM PST #
Posted by Rich Burridge on November 07, 2004 at 07:19 AM PST #