A two-seat, all-composite very light helicopter, targeted at the luxury owner-flown market, is being developed in the Czech Republic by NA Design.
The Kuoim-based privately owned company is seeking to establish joint venture partnerships with Western manufacturers to help develop and market the twin-engined NA-40 Bongo, designed, it says, as a "sports car of the sky".
NA Design chief financial officer Jan Oplatek says: "Although development of the Bongo is proceeding well [the first prototype has accumulated over 70h of tethered hover flights of up to 45min duration], it has become clear that we require the experience of established Western manufacturers to help us certificate, manufacture and promote the Bongo to the international market."
NA Design, which signed a co-operation agreement with Czech aircraft builder Morovan in 1999 to assist programme development, is also seeking around $2.5 million in private investment to complete certification, set for late 2003.
Priced at around $750,000, the Bongo features a "unique" rocket-powered emergency parachute system which can be mounted above the rotor, a patented tail rotor, designed to increase fuel efficiency by up to 35%, and fixed skid landing gear.
Powered by two Czech designed 85kW (64shp) PBS Velká Bítes turboshaft engines, the aircraft offers a maximum cruise speed of 150km/h (80kt) and a range of 500km (270nm) and a maximum take off weight of 950kg (2,090lb).
Oplatek believes there is a market for around 100 Bongos a year, although in its first full year of production, scheduled for 2004, up to 10 machines will be built. He says: "Like the Ferrari sport car, this is a niche market so we do not intend to flood it with mass produced aircraft."
Source: Flight International
