Powertrain Failure Results In Significant Damage To Prototype Airframe, Pilot Safe

One of the SportPlane  world's most controversial kit development programs may be near an end.

Following years of setbacks, delays and no end of questionable development decision, followed by a flight test program that reportedly got ast the minimum 40 hours, the Raptor prototype has been reported down in a corn field after a drive system failure resulted in an unplanned landing (one of three that we know of) tearing off the gear and apparently damaging other parts of the airframe. As those that have done so can tell you, cornfield landings are not without serious consequence and the damage may keep this airframe from flying again. 

The brainchild of designer, Peter Muller, the project started out with significant bluster and hype... "The Raptor is an extremely spacious 5 place, pressurized, composite aircraft with a 62" wide cabin with a possible top speed of 300 knots that can cruise at 230 knots true on 7 gph of Diesel or Jet-A. It will come equipped with an optional BRS airframe parachute, constant speed propeller and anti-lock brakes. It's a luxury SUV for the sky." The Raptor is powered by a Muller-designed Audi 3.0 TDI diesel automotive conversion. He was promoting kits that were expected to cost $130,000.

It's designer, Peter Muller, financed the program off what was reported to be over 1500 $2000 deposits -- held in escrow and augmented by occasional appeals for additional financial help.

The multi-year project has been widely criticized for making what many believe to be unrealistic claims... while a number of people once associated with the project have abandoned it, or Muller. It was known to use some questionable hardware and engineering, and was said to be well over 800 pounds heavier than its design weight. However; Muller soldiered on... and keeps a fan base heavily invested in his progress via dozens of highly-detailed videos that have followed the development of the program with great transparency -- warts and all.

The aircraft was in the process of being gradually repositioned to Idaho from its previous home in Georgia when the accident occurred.

Fillmore County Sheriff Bill Burgess has reported that the Friday accident occurred around 7 a.m. Burgess also reported that Pilot Peter Muller of Clinton, Arkansas told him that his plane lost power while he was trying to fly between Manhattan, Kansas and Grand Island. The aircraft went down, impacting a cornfield just north of Highway 6 about four miles west of Fairmont, NE.

Muller has popped up on YouTube to note that, "I'm fine. The aircraft is down in a corn field. We're working on the logistics of getting it out and on a truck. The redrive had some kind of problem that I had not experienced before. Need more investigation to find out why but in the grand scheme we weren't planning on using that design going forward anyway. A bit of a set back but you know me well enough by now to know that I'll keep pushing on with the program."

As previously noted, the project will require serious effort to complete (especially in light of recent setbacks), and we're hoping that Muller reconsiders the program, en masse. We have grave doubts as to whether this project can meet its performance goals and whether the aircraft can be produced for the SportPlane kit market at the cost he promised. We applaud his transparency, and his perseverance... but this is a program that appears to need some serious outside evaluation by expert personnel, and Muller may not be up to the task.

ANN has reached out to Raptor on several occasions... and received no reply.

We'll keep you apprised.

FMI: www.raptor-aircraft.com