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for information contact:
Anita C. Infante, 309 853-5328

For Immediate Release - January 2011

 

Carter PAV Completes 1st Milestone Flight

Wichita Falls, TX - Carter Aviation Technologies (Carter) of Wichita Falls, TX is pleased to announce that their new Personal Air Vehicle (PAV) has completed its first milestone in flight-testing. The PAV is Carter's second generation, proof-of-concept aircraft set to demonstrate their revolutionary SR/CTM technology - a combination of rotorcraft and fixed-wing aerodynamics. The milestone flight designation is outlined in an economic development incentive agreement that Carter has with the city of Wichita Falls, TX. Completion of a 30-minute flight constitutes the first, flight-based milestone of eight funding milestones under the agreement. On January 5, 2011 the PAV completed a 36-minute flight while testing the installation of new sensors on the aircraft.

In releasing the news, Carter President, Jay Carter, Jr., commented, "This is an exciting time for us. Our first aircraft proved the viability of our technology. This aircraft translates that technology into a viable consumer product. Each of these milestones moves us one step closer to our final goal by providing the funding to refine our technology for commercialization."

The PAV incorporates several significant advances developed during the testing of Carter's original proof-of-concept aircraft. Most systems have been automated with new computer controls, greatly reducing the pilot workload. Test pilot, Larry Neal, sums it up with a simple statement after completing the 36-minute flight, "This aircraft is unbelievably fun to fly."

The PAV is completing Phase I of its flight-test regimen which refines the flight control systems of the gyro performance segment including the vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability of the PAV. For Phase II of the test plan Carter will add the 45-foot wing section to the aircraft and begin flight-tests to refine the Slowed Rotor/Compound flight aspects that define their SR/CTM technology.

For more information on the PAV test flights visit the Carter website: www.CarterAviationTechnologies.com

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SR/C is a trademark of Carter Aviation Technologies, LLC.

 

High Resolution Photos for Print
Click on any photo for full resolution image (~1 MB per photo)

PAV in Test Pit
PAVmilstn1: A shot from the PAV tail camera during the 36-minute, milestone flight on January 5, 2011. The tufts on the fuselage are to monitor air flow during flight-tests. The video tail camera also records the visual performance of the prop, tilting mast and rotor during each flight-test.
Photo Credit: Carter Aerospace Development

PAV in Test Pit
PAVmilstn2: Take-off. The Carter PAV has completed several flights during its Phase I series of flight-tests. The 36-minute, milestone flight was the longest.
Photo Credit: Anita Infante

PAV in Test Pit
PAVmilstn3: Test pilot, Larry Neal, and co-pilot, Robert Luna, return from another successful test flight. Phase I of the PAV flight testing will be completed after satisfactory results are achieved for the vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability of the aircraft.
Photo Credit: Anita Infante

 

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