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for information contact:
Anita C. Infante, 309 853-5328
For Immediate Release - July 2008
Carter Announces Partners in Technology
Wichita Falls, TX - Carter Aviation Technologies (Carter) of Wichita Falls, TX is pleased to announce their partnership with several companies to develop and refine systems and provide support for their new Personal Air Vehicle (PAV) Prototype. The new PAV prototype is the second-generation aircraft to demonstrate Carter's revolutionary, Slowed Rotor/Compound (SR/C) Aircraft technology. The new PAV prototype is a 4-place design currently under construction with completion and initial flight-testing scheduled for late this year.
Carter views these new partnerships as key to the success of their technology for commercialization. In announcing the new partnerships Carter President, Jay Carter, Jr., said, "We are very pleased to have the support of these industry leaders. We want to be able to offer an extremely reliable, easy to operate, highly capable, safe aircraft when we are ready for market. These technology partners are enabling us to do just that." Systems development is being improved through partnerships with Lycoming and Blue Mountain Avionics while other significant support is coming from Ice Management Systems, Concorde Battery, AeroShell and Sky Ox oxygen systems.
Carter is proud to have Lycoming on board for the new powerplant. Carter's original prototype used an automotive engine and integrating it for flight use created several problems. Lycoming technicians have spent a significant amount of time making engine changes to integrate Carter applications. The new PAV will be powered by a Lycoming IO 540 for initial flight-testing. This engine will provide cruise speeds to an estimated 180 mph at 7,500 ft. After initial flight-testing, Carter plans to upgrade to the 350 HP, twin turbo-charged TIO 540 engine - the turbo version will provide an estimated 210 mph at full power at 7,500 ft, 223 mph at 12,500 ft or 242 mph at 20,000ft. Ultimately, Carter plans to integrate Lycoming's new, multi-fuel, IE2engine when it is available. This remarkable new engine with its advanced electronic engine control system will provide the automation and versatility that Carter has envisioned for the PAV.
Blue Mountain's involvement is critical to integrating the rotorcraft and fixed-wing capabilities of Carter's technology for effortless pilot control of the aircraft. According to Blue Mountain's President, Greg Richter, "Flying a rotorcraft may be harder than flying an airplane, but flying both at the same time is a real challenge. Carter's PAV requires advanced electronics to make it easy to fly and simple to operate, and the controllers I've designed operate the Tilting Mast (optimal wing angle of attack and rotor rpm), Landing Gear, Prop, Data Collection, video and RADAR altimetry and are all visible via a high-power Ethernet air to ground data network." The new Mast Controller uses precision inertial references and processor hardware designed specifically to be used in production versions of the Carter PAV and is purpose-built for that task. The Blue Mountain EFIS/Two panels will provide navigation and guidance, and the Blue Mountain autopilot is being extended to control the PAV as easily as any aircraft.
As the PAV prototype progresses, Ice Management Systems is on board to integrate a de-icing system for the aircraft. This system will provide a much higher degree of safety and utility in cold weather conditions.
The original Carter prototype had a pressurized cabin. The initial PAV prototype will not be pressurized, therefore, Sky Ox Oxygen Systems will be used for high altitude flight-testing and long range cruise.
Additional support will be provided by product sponsorships from Concorde Battery and AeroShell acknowledging that performance and reliability are impacted by even the smallest details.
"It's exciting to see the progress that is being made in our second prototype," commented, Jay Carter, Jr. "Our first prototype was built exclusively for our own research and development purposes - to prove our technology. Now we are looking at the refinements of the technology and how we can best impact the marketplace. The help of these new partnerships is invaluable. They are enabling us to use advanced technology that they have created to improve our capability and reliability. Together we will have defined a revolutionary new aircraft."
For more information on Carter and their technology visit: www.CarterAviationTechnologies.com
PLEASE NOTE: Jay Carter, Jr. will be giving a Forum on Carter's Technology and an Update on the new, PAV at AirVenture on Saturday, August 2nd at 11:30 AM in Forum Building 11.
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