Tue, Sep 30, 2014
Described As An 'Affordable High Altitude Long Endurance' Aircraft
A company in Colorado is designing an aircraft it is calling the "Dream Chaser" .. and no, it's not Sierra Nevada Corp's space system.
This Colorado company ... Dream Chaser Aircraft, hopes to change aviation by building a "high altitude long endurance (HALE) airplane at "an affordable price." They have turned to the crowdfunding site "FundAnything" in an effort to raise money for the project.
On its website and on the FundAnything page, the company describes current GA airplanes as "expensive, incredibly cramped, noisy, gas guzzling and ozone killing -- and most of them are several decades old." The company says that small airplanes "desperately need an update," and it hopes to follow Henry Ford's example when he said he wanted to "design a car that will not be just a commodity for the rich people," but rather to "make it so cheap that every family can have it."
The Dream Chaser would use conventional engines as well as hybrids that burn diesel fuel or operate on electric power. It would have the ability to fly non-stop from continent to continent with ample room for baggage and/or science and research equipment. The company wants it to be able to fly high enough to get over most weather with a "military grade" oxygen system, and be comfortable, quiet, and fast.
The GA version of the airplane would have a 42-foot wingspan, be powered by a 300 HP conventional aviation engine, have a top speed of 215 knots and an long-endurance cruise speed of 175 knots. The airplane would burn 10 GPH, have a service ceiling of FL350, and a no-reserve range of 4,375 nautical miles, according to specs published on the company's website.
The company is filming a documentary of the airplane's development.
(Image from YouTube video)
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