General

• What will be the first product available?

  For any of our aircraft, we expect a kit version would become available before a certified version, since the certification process is time consuming. Since the 4-Place Prop version is the prototype that we're currently working on, it seems most likely that the 4-Place Kit Prop will be the first product available.

• Can I place a deposit if I live outside the U.S.?

  Yes, you can, but our bank does not accept checks from foreign banks. Please, contact us by e-mail for the information needed to wire transfer your deposit.

Kit Versions

• Do you have any idea how long a kit version would take to build?

  Our kit planes will be offered only as extremely fast build kits, whereby the buyer, with the help of 1 assistant, can assemble the entire airframe at the factory in 2 weeks. As part of buying the aircraft, potential purchasers would visit the manufacturing facility for a factory training course, which would vary in length depending on the previous flight experience of the customer. To ensure safety, potential purchasers will be required to have an autogyro license before finalizing the purchase. The purchaser could then begin construction on their aircraft at the manufacturing facility. To comply with the FAA regulations for kit aircraft, the purchaser has to build at least 51% of the aircraft. A trained factory technician will help with up to 49% of the construction. Not included in the required 51% build rule is the engine installation, instrument panel, and interior/exterior finish, which will be completed by the factory. The rotor and propeller will also be manufactured by the factory.

  Aircraft insurance will only be available when flown by pilots that meet these requirements. Slowed Rotor/Compound aircraft are easy to fly and potentially some of the safest aircraft in the world, but to minimize problems with the aircraft construction or pilot errors, these requirements will be mandatory.

• Do you have some idea on what the kits will cost?

  Until an aircraft is much closer to being ready for manufacturing, we really have no idea how much the aircraft would cost. To give a ball park figure, because of the more specialized machined parts in the rotor, rotor head, and rotor prerotator drive, it will probably cost around 10% more to produce than for a fixed-wing aircraft of comparable size. However, the market will drive the price, so the actual price that the kits are sold for could vary considerably. Most likely, the cost of an aircraft like the kit version of the 4-Place PAV will be comparable to other high performance single engine piston aircraft (Lancair, Velocity, etc.).

• How about the engine?

  To keep engineering & manufacturing costs down, the first aircraft will be offered with only a limited number of engine options. The 4-place prototype will be powereed by a Lycoming IO-540 engine. If that engine works out well in the prototype it will likely be offered on the first kits, but the engine compartment has been designed to handle a wide range of engines. We will also explore heavy fuel (diesel or Jet A) options. For other aircraft, the engine will be chosen depending on the size of the aircraft, but will be an engine designed specifically for aviation (no automotive engines). Those that will be considered include engines from Rotax, Hirth, Thielert, Delta Hawk, Lycoming, and Continental, among others.

• Do you have a more firm idea of when kits will be available?

  This is dependent mostly on the funding available. Substantial tooling and infrastructure still need to be completed before going into production, but this could be accelerated if there were enough interest/money.

• Will the kit be the same size as your prototype, or will it be a scaled-down version, or both?

  The first kit version will likely be the 4-Place Personal Air Vehicle. This is the prototype that we're currently building. It's similar in size to our original CarterCopter prototype, using the same size rotor, and will have a similar max gross weight. However, where the CarterCopter had a bench seat in the back capable of carrying 3 passengers (for a total of 5 people, including the pilot), the 4-Place PAV has two individual rear seats, and so can only carry a max of 4 people. Once production is up and running on the 4-place, we will examine what aircraft to develop, next. The 2-Place Personal Air Vehicle seems like a very likely candidate, and we may also examine the market for a single place similar to our CarterGyro Demonstrator. Of course, it will be up to the manufacturers licensing the technology to decide what size aircraft they want to produce.

Certified Versions

• How much will a certified version cost?

  Until an aircraft is much closer to being ready for manufacturing, we really have no idea how much the aircraft would cost. To give a ball park figure, because of the more specialized machined parts in the rotor, rotor head, and rotor prerotator drive, it will probably cost the around 10% more to produce it than for a fixed-wing aircraft of comparable size. However, the market will drive the price, so the actual price that the certified aircraft are sold for could vary considerably.

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