Jetpod crashed near my dad's house.

[funfer_fahrer]

Monday August 17, 2009Inventor killed in Jetpod crashBy RASLAN BAHAROMTAIPING: A prototype of the ‘flying taxi’ belonging to British-based Avcen Ltd crashed and burst into flames during a test flight from Tekah airstrip, killing its inventor Michael Robert Dacre.Dacre, 53, who is also Avcen’s managing director, died in the 12.30pm crash yesterday. He was piloting the newly-assembled Jetpod.

Disaster scene: Fire and rescue personnel checking the wreckage of the Jetpod which crashed during the test flight in Taiping yesterday. Avcen Limited Malaysia is based at Patimas Technology Centre, Technology Park, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur and Dacre had intended for the eight-seater flying taxi to be ready in 2010.Taiping deputy police chief Supt Syed Abdul Wahab Abdul Majid said Dacre suffered severe burns and injuries and died at the scene.The incident was witnessed by many residents including retired soldier Halim Hamid.Halim, 50, who resides at nearby Taman Saujana Jaya said he was scooping shrimps to feed his pet fish at a pond about 50m from where the aircraft had crashed.“Earlier, I saw it revving down the runway thrice but it could not take off and later another three times in the opposite direction.”“However, on the fourth run, the jet took off but at about 200m high, it shot vertically to the sky before veering to the left and falling to the ground.”“There was a loud explosion when it crashed and firemen who were at the scene managed to put out the blaze,” said Halim.He said the Jetpod, brought in parts in a lorry container, arrived at the airstrip about a week ago.Police personnel at the scene were seen collecting the pilot’s burnt and dismembered limbs from the wreckage before sending them to the Taiping hospital mortuary.Some of the residents said a co-pilot had wanted to accompany the deceased on the test flight but the latter was against it and decided to fly alone instead.Several Royal Malaysian Air Force personnel were at the scene to check the wreckage of the aircraft.

 

[astroboy]

What is a Jetpod? Is it like the craft used in Pod Race in Star War?

 

[funfer_fahrer]

My dad's house was less than 1 km from the scene. If the fight test was successful, that was going to be one helluva innovation. Aiyah! Must cancel my order already. Have to wait for the Jetson's style car. (Cheaper than M5 you know, he he)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysCbOs6LnBQ


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kp_-b728AnE

 

[funfer_fahrer]

What is a Jetpod? Is it like the craft used in Pod Race in Star War?

This is a Jetpod.

 

[astroboy]

Aiyoo, Inventor killed, Managing Director to the company also killed.. what's going to happen to this company and the Jetpod le?

British company doing R&D in Malaysia ka? Interesting.. but sad way to learn about this technology.

 

[funfer_fahrer]

I wish I am having one of these.

http://www.moller.com/m400.htm


The New M400 Design
The production configuration of the M400 Skycar has gone through a few permutations as many hours of wind tunnel testing showed ways to improve the aircraft's performance. One of the long-term goals has been to find a way to operate the Skycar in hover in the same configuration as when operating on the ground. This would allow it to land and hover in a much smaller area, for example on the median strip of a highway as might be done during a roadside emergency medical mission.
The present M400X came close to achieving this but because the wing/tail is so far back the lift/drag ratio is only 7.5 and the dead-stick gliding speed is high, making an un-powered landing very difficult. We have now found a way to move the wing forward and add sweep so that together with tail extensions on the wing, we achieve a lift/drag ratio of 12.5. In addition to being able to hover with the wings folded, the under carriage wheels are farther apart for increased ground stability. This new configuration has less airflow interference between front and rear nacelles, better visibility from the cockpit for improved ground and air operations, and dead-stick gliding speed that is substantially lower.


Passengers:

4​

Top speed @ 13,200 ft:

375 mph​

Cruise speed @ 20,000 ft:

275 mph​

Maximum rate of climb:

6,000 fpm​

Maximum range:

750 miles​

Payload excluding fuel:

750 lbs​

Operational ceiling:

36,000 ft​

Gross weight:

2,400 lbs​

Engine power (2 min. rating):

1,200 hp​

Fuel consumption:

approx. 20 mpg​

Fuel:

Ethanol​

Dimensions (LxWxH):

19.5' x 8.5' x 7.5'​

Takeoff and landing area:

35 ft dia​

Noise level at 500 ft (Goal):

65 dba​

Vertical takeoff and landing:

yes​

Emergency parachutes:

yes​

 

[funfer_fahrer]

Aiyoo, Inventor killed, Managing Director to the company also killed.. what's going to happen to this company and the Jetpod le?

British company doing R&D in Malaysia ka? Interesting.. but sad way to learn about this technology.

Don't worry boss. Airbus 320 last time crashed during AIRSHOW in Basel and yet people have faith in it. Now, everyone can fly. Hmm...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EM0hDchVlY

 

[funfer_fahrer]

Terrafugia also not bad. Street legal sumore.

http://www.terrafugia.com/photogallery.html

 

[funfer_fahrer]

I went back to Taiping recently. This is the photo of the serene Taiping Airfield taken on the 23/08/09, a week after the crash.

 

[funfer_fahrer]

This is where it crashed. At the edge of Runway 36 perimeter.

 

[mizhan]

mankind's innovations have survived hundreds if not thousands of fatal incidents.. yet we demonstate tenacity to continue to innovate. a highlight of our specie..

 

[funfer_fahrer]

A close-up view of the crash site. According to witnesses the plane stalled at a high pitch attitude, left wing down and the pilot never recovered.

The total cost of removing the wreckage is RM80,000.00.

 

[mizhan]

pilot probably didn't get his training at Miramar..

 

[funfer_fahrer]

pilot probably didn't get his training at Miramar..

I think it's a combination of a lot of other things. The plane for a start looked like an Alphard wing short wings. Almost impossible to fly at a first glance. The co-pilot noticed something was very wrong after the third take-off attempt and decided to step down. The pilot eventually flew alone. Probably, he was under pressure from various parties.

 

[funfer_fahrer]

I believe this is the fibreglass flap fairing panel.

 

[funfer_fahrer]

Just to give you some rough idea how big the panel is. Not big really.

 

[funfer_fahrer]

Can you see the burn marks?

 

[funfer_fahrer]

This is the carbon fibre part. Not sure which component.

 

[mizhan]

I think it's a combination of a lot of other things. The plane for a start looked like an Alphard wing short wings. Almost impossible to fly at a first glance. The co-pilot noticed something was very wrong after the third take-off attempt and decided to step down. The pilot eventually flew alone. Probably, he was under pressure from various parties.

he was no doubt under pressure to make his creation a commercial success.