Large, soft, rubbery passenger aircraft with downward- pointing jets that bounces along in giant hops from start to destination... probably vacation destinations.

Steering effected by controlling the exhaust nozzles. Use prevailing wind to enhance forward motion unless you're in a hurry.

WHEEEEEeeeeeEEEEE ! Like a flying rollercoaster, with hostess service.
-- UnaBubba, Apr 27 2012

http://www.youtube....h_query=hopper+ball [FlyingToaster, Apr 27 2012]

space hoppers http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_hopper
[jaksplat, Apr 27 2012]

They don't bounce so well http://bangordailyn...levant-plane-crash/
It says they 'walked away', but my Dad's friend (the pilot) actually fractured his _upper_ jaw and underwent rather horrendous surgery to have it repaired. [Alterother, Apr 27 2012]

Not boing though. http://www.strangec...nt/item/176412.html
[2 fries shy of a happy meal, Apr 27 2012]

[+] but surely the passengers can put some work into it as well. <link>
-- FlyingToaster, Apr 27 2012


//What link?// okay, *you* try to recall what those big bouncy balls with handles are called.

[edit: thanks [jak], sorry [21] I was stuck on youtube for about 20 minutes sorting through "bouncy ball" items... )
-- FlyingToaster, Apr 27 2012


There are a few pilots who have a landing style entirely appropriate to this design of aircraft… onfortunately, they tend to apply the same technique with planes of a rather more conventional design.
-- 8th of 7, Apr 27 2012


A friend of my father's tried that technique recently <airlink>. He flies KC-135s for a living. I'm guessing he's never tried to bounce one of those, though.
-- Alterother, Apr 27 2012


The proposed flight profile of the Silbervogel Amerika Bomber was this, pretty much.
-- AbsintheWithoutLeave, Apr 27 2012


I flew yesterday. The err... "landing" made me think of this idea. I think I counted three separate touchdowns.
-- UnaBubba, Apr 27 2012


Goodyear made a military version. [link]
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Apr 27 2012


That link is a little bizarre, [2fries].
-- UnaBubba, Apr 28 2012


//Goodyear Inflatable Airplane// Because when you're on the battlefield with bullets and shrapnel whizzing about, what you really need is an inflatable airplane.
-- FlyingToaster, Apr 28 2012



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