Two Engines, Four Wheels And A Parachute

On-again/off-again PPC manufacturer Buckeye Aviation will debut what it believes to be the first aerial ATV at the Iowa Farm and Field Fest in Ames/Boone, Iowa, this weekend, August 26-28. The combination powered parachute and all-terrain vehicle has two engines-a three-cylinder, 100-hp Hirth to drive the propeller, and a 150-cc motorcycle-type engine to power the drive train. Using a 550 square-foot ram parachute as its wing, the two-place, side-by-side machine will fly at 34 mph and travel across the ground at 40 mph.

The machine was reportedly conceived and designed by Butch and Ralph Howard of Buckeye Aviation, (who's previous corporate incarnations have had a pretty checkered history over the years, FYI). This time, though, Ralph says the company sees the aerial ATV, or Buckeye Outback as it's currently named, as a boon to ranchers and farmers... and, of course, the Howards believe it will appeal to recreational enthusiasts as well. Buckeye claims to have filed patents for various adaptations of the machine.

Ralph Howard said the company is currently looking at a price in the high-$20,000 range. He added that the implementation of the sport pilot/light-sport aircraft rule makes this a good time to introduce the "Outback." Pilots will need to earn a sport pilot certificate with a powered parachute rating to operate the aircraft in the air, while operating the ATV will be governed by state motor vehicle regulations.

FMI: www.buckeyeaviation.com