Construction of a proof-of-concept vehicle for a flying three-wheeled motorcycle/autogyro hybrid will begin in June following its developer's relocation to Belgium from the Netherlands.
The Netherlands-based Personal Air and Land Vehicle (PAL-V) Europe is in negotiations with the Belgium government on financial incentives to make the move. The company has also secured undisclosed private financing and says it has received offers to manufacture the vehicle, called the PAL-V One.
Construction will start in June and PAL-V Europe expects development to take two years. "We will be optimising the body and tail shape in the windtunnel. We are discussing this with NLR [the Dutch national aerospace laboratory]," says chief technology officer John Bakker.
PAL-V Europe announced its vehicle in 2004. Since then it has improved the rotor head and rotor tilting system and combined driving and flying controls into one. The company also has patents pending on a foldable rotor.
In Europe the vehicle will be certificated as a motorcycle for road use and a lightweight rotorcraft for airborne use. In the USA it will be certificated as a light sport aircraft.
Source: Flight International
