Tue, Apr 19, 2011
Moller International Hopes To Fly M400 In October
Moller International has scheduled a demonstration
flight of its ethanol-fueled M400 Skycar volantor. This
invitation-only media event is scheduled to take place on October
11, 2011 in Vacaville, CA. The company says over 250 members of the
domestic and international press have already indicated an interest
in attending.
Artist's Rendering
Moller has been touting the Skycar concept for nearly 10 years
now, and says the four-place M400 will be a VTOL aircraft capable
of top speeds of 350 mph and a 750 mile range. It is powered by
four Rotapower engines driving modified ducted fans. The company
says the M400 will offer helicopter-like takeoffs and landings,
with the speed and performance of a business jet. They say there
are civilian as well as military applications for the "Skycar".
The company conducted a tethered hover test in 2002, and
predicted at the time that the the M400 would be certified by 2006.
The company certainly has had its share of ups and downs (pun
partially intended), having put prototypes of its M200X and M400 up
for auction on e-Bay, most recently in 2008, but generating little
interest.
Moller initially developed and flight-tested a utility or
recreational, two-passenger VTOL aircraft called the Neuera. This
was followed by the development and initial flight-testing of a
four-passenger VTOL aircraft called the Skycar, which the company
says has "the potential to provide an airborne alternative to a
significant portion of the miles now traveled by automobile." Both
aircraft use the Company's Rotapower rotary engine, designed
specifically for applications requiring high power along with low
weight, volume, hazardous emissions, fuel consumption and cost per
horsepower.
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