Moller International, developer of the vertical take-off and landing M400 Skycar, has enlisted the help of Virginia-based Analytical Mechanics Associates (AMA) for certification of the four-seat flying-car design.
Davis, California-based Moller has also joined a consortium of companies studying NASA's Small Aircraft Transportation System (SATS). Meanwhile, the company is re-engining its single two-seat M400X prototype in preparation for untethered flight tests next year (Flight International, 22-28 October).
AMA is to manage the analysis and documentation necessary for US Federal Aviation Administration certification of the Skycar's airframe, undercarriage, folding wing and rotating nacelles, including the analysis required for vehicle pressurisation. AMA, which has previously carried out analysis for NASA missions including the Hyper-X and Mars Pathfinder, will assist Moller in defining structural and aerodynamic characteristics and large-scale production techniques.
SATS is a NASA project aimed at developing small aircraft and airports into a new mode of transport. The Southeast SATSLab consortium, which consists of government, industry and academic partners, aims to demonstrate SATS-compatible technologies in and around Florida in 2005.
Moller plans to equip its M400 with features essential for SATS-type operations, such as a satellite-based navigation system and onboard display of aircraft operations and status. Moller is also touting its own vision of a "highway in the sky" concept using runway-independent aircraft operating from business and residential "vertiports".
Moller is currently retrofitting its eight-engined M400X prototype, which recently completed tethered flight tests at Davis. The more powerful water-cooled rotary engines and larger 0.69m (27in) diameter fans are intended for production aircraft.
Moller general manager Bruce Calkin says "flight testing will resume in the new year", and the company plans to build a five-acre lake over which untethered tests can be safely conducted. The company is planning to build three production standard four-seat Skycars for flight testing, and is aiming for certification in 2005.
Over 100 orders are booked.
Source: Flight International
