Rotary Rocket's Roton Atmospheric Test Vehicle approach and landing demonstrator made its first translational, forward, flight in the envelope expansion programme on 12 October. The craft, which is planned to be a single-stage to low-earth-orbit vehicle, flew 1,310m (4,300ft) along Mojave Airport's runway at a maximum altitude of 72ft and maximum groundspeed of 45kt (84km/h). The Roton was flown by company test pilots Marti Sarigul-Klijn and Brian Binnie. The test ended with a hover and landing 9min 45s after lift-off, powered by the thrusters on the vehicle's helicopter-like rotary blades.
Source: Flight International
