Moller International Hopes To Fly M400 In October

Moller International has scheduled a demonstration flight of its ethanol-fueled M400 Skycar volantor. This invitation-only media event is scheduled to take place on October 11, 2011 in Vacaville, CA. The company says over 250 members of the domestic and international press have already indicated an interest in attending.

Artist's Rendering

Moller has been touting the Skycar concept for nearly 10 years now, and says the four-place M400 will be a VTOL aircraft capable of top speeds of 350 mph and a 750 mile range. It is powered by four Rotapower engines driving modified ducted fans. The company says the M400 will offer helicopter-like takeoffs and landings, with the speed and performance of a business jet. They say there are civilian as well as military applications for the "Skycar".

The company conducted a tethered hover test in 2002, and predicted at the time that the the M400 would be certified by 2006. The company certainly has had its share of ups and downs (pun partially intended), having put prototypes of its M200X and M400 up for auction on e-Bay, most recently in 2008, but generating little interest.

Moller initially developed and flight-tested a utility or recreational, two-passenger VTOL aircraft called the Neuera. This was followed by the development and initial flight-testing of a four-passenger VTOL aircraft called the Skycar, which the company says has "the potential to provide an airborne alternative to a significant portion of the miles now traveled by automobile." Both aircraft use the Company's Rotapower rotary engine, designed specifically for applications requiring high power along with low weight, volume, hazardous emissions, fuel consumption and cost per horsepower.

FMI: www.moller.com