British Aviation Entrepreneur Hoped To Develop A Fast Airborne Taxi

53-year-old Michael Dacre was killed Sunday when the Jetpod he was testing crashed after takeoff from an airport in Taiping. The Times of London said witnesses reported the aircraft had reached an altitude of about 600 feet when it suddenly entered a vertical climb, then spun into the ground.

Avcen Jetpod Artists' Conception

Dacre envisioned the Jetpod as an aerial taxi that would safely, quietly, and quickly move people from a pick-up site to the centers of cities. The Jetpod was designed to be a STOL aircraft, needing only about 400 feet to take off and land, with a cruising speed of about 300 knots. Because it would make numerous trips, Dacre's company Avcen estimated that a Jetpod fare from Heathrow to London, for example, would be about $100. He thought commuters in cities like New York Moscow, Tokyo and London would greatly benefit from his invention.

Aerospace Consultant Jeff Jupp, who worked on the project, told the Times “I thought his idea was very interesting, with some novel features such as the aerodynamic changes to make the aircraft better for take-off and landing. It could have been a useful addition to the aviation scene.”

Dacre had hoped to have the Jetpod in commercial use by next year. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

FMI: www.avcen.com