OSAC to Partner with Carter to Restore the 'CCTD'

The Organization for Sport Aviation Competition (OSAC) and 2002 ANNie Award-winning Carter Aviation Technologies have agreed to restore the prototype CarterCopter, which after having flown successfully for more than four years in a slow progression of testing sequences to validate Carter's unique gyroplane technology, was badly damaged in a gear-up landing on April 8, 2003. The accident occurred at a critical phase in Carter's development plan and the CCTD was scheduled to be abandoned.

Anita Infante, President of OSAC, became aware of the discussions to scrap the CCTD and suggested an alternative. OSAC is a public charity whose primary purpose is to support and provide educational programs to the general public. In addition, its focus is to build a greater understanding of the history and impact that experimental aviation has had on society and to support the field of sport/experimental aviation through competitive events. According to Ms. Infante, "My board of directors and I believe that the CCTD has tremendous importance as a revolutionary and historic aircraft and that it should be restored for educational purposes for future generations. We also feel strongly that the CCTD, as a development of experimental aviation, should be the aircraft to break the Mu-1 Barrier." 

Infante pointed out that the two most important aviation prototypes that constitute the heritage of the CCTD -- the 1903 Wright Flyer and the Cierva C.4 Autogyro -- are no longer in existence [the 1903 Wright machine in the NASM is largely the result of a reconstruction --ed]. She continued, "I assume that, like the CCTD, these prototypes had served their purpose and it wasn't considered good business sense to repair or maintain them. Sadly, these icons in aviation history have now been lost to the generations whose lives they so dramatically changed." OSAC has agreed to help save the CCTD through a grass-roots fundraising initiative so that it will be available to future generations for centuries to come as an example of the personal achievement that is possible when we dare to dream beyond the known.

When ANN talked with Ms Infante, we asked if concentrating efforts on bringing the CCTD back to airworthy status might slow the development of the NxCC (next generation CarterCopter). She told us that it will, to one extent; but that the benefit of Carter's having a machine to demonstrate, long before the NxCC would be ready, would offset the delay to a large extent. With the rebuilding now underway, there is a good chance that the CCTD will be flying at Oshkosh, she told us.

In consideration for OSAC's partnership, Carter has agreed to restore the CCTD with the intent to use it to break the Mu-1 Barrier. In addition, Carter has agreed that once restored the CCTD cannot be sold, but must be donated to a public museum or other public education program. In order to maintain the original schedule for breaking the Mu-1 Barrier in November of this year, Carter has temporarily canceled production work on their next generation CarterCopter and is using that funding to begin repairs to the CCTD. As financial support becomes available through OSAC's funding campaign the donations will be credited toward the restoration.

Contributions to OSAC for the Mu-1 Member's Club are tax deductible for federal income tax  purposes. contributors receive neat premiums and privileges, which are outlined on the sebsite, where the Mu-1 Member's Club is explained in detail. (Note that Carter Copters has a new URL.)

FMI: www.carteraviationtechnologies.com