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Anita C. Infante, 309 853-5328
For Immediate Release - July 2009
Carter Celebrates 15th Anniversary
Wichita Falls, TX - Carter Aviation Technologies (Carter) of Wichita Falls, TX is celebrating their 15th anniversary in 2009. The research & development company was founded in 1994 with the express purpose of developing a vertical take-off and landing rotorcraft with the capability for high-speed flight.
Carter's first, proof-of-concept prototype, the CCTD, was completed in 1998. It was a large, 5-place aircraft with a fuselage design somewhat similar to many helicopters - large, clear, windshield area for good visibility and a rounded, pressurized body - but with a much more substantial tail section (two tail booms), a pusher prop and the addition of long, narrow, high aspect ratio wings. In seven years of flight testing the CCTD provided valuable flight-test data and confirmation of the viability of Carter's goal.
On June 17, 2005 the CCTD, while flight-testing under a U.S. Army contract, became the first rotorcraft to achieve an advance ratio of Mu-1. It accomplished this milestone at a speed of 173 mph, a rotor RPM of 107 and with a remarkable L/D of 7:1.
When asked about the 15 year development process, Carter President, Jay Carter, Jr. responded, "Our development process has been difficult and time consuming. We had to develop ways of doing things that had never been done before. Plus, in addition to developing a totally new technology, we had to develop ways to test it and prove it. There were nine basic technical issues that we had to overcome. All of these were related to the rotor, particularly at low rotor RPM as we increased aircraft speed. Over the last 15 years, we have not only proven our technology, but now feel that we are at a point where it is refined for market."
In celebration of their 15th anniversary, Carter is debuting their second-generation prototype - a 4-place Personal Air Vehicle (PAV) - which is set to transition into flight-testing this fall. It is being introduced at EAA's AirVenture 2009.
For more information: www.CarterAviationTechnologies.com/pav
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