Moller M200G Volantor
The M200 Neuera is a VTOL aircraft of the U.S. manufacturer Moller International. A characteristic feature is the appearance which corresponds to the popular image of a flying saucer.
History
Early on, Canadian-born Paul Moller had a vision of flying cars. In the following years he developed many concepts for vertical takeoff and landing aircraft and finally gave up its duties as a professor, in order to devote himself entirely to his ideas. First experiments with ufoartigen aircraft began in 1965.
Numerous drafts were then made and made of some prototypes. 1989 finally the M200 was tested for the first time. The first flights took place on a leash secured. After the design was already forgotten almost back. Due to liquidity problems, the company was looking for sources of money. To fund the development of the Moller Skycar, the M200 is now available for prices between 40,000 Euro 65,000. The launch has been announced several times and then moved again. Technical problems have prevented the civil certification. The market is doubted by many professionals.
Construction
The M200 is a disk-shaped aircraft. The pilot and, where appropriate, the passenger sit centrally located in the center of the disk and are protected by an optional dome of plexiglass against environmental influences. The structure of the hull is of aluminum, and fiberglass. To protect the occupant airbags to be installed.
For the buoyancy provide eight lifting rotors, which are distributed over the circumference are arranged around the pilot. They are carried out and encased integrated in the structure of the hull. Each lift rotor driven by a separate air-cooled rotary engine.
Since the flight behavior of the M200 itself is unstable, accepts an included in a fly-by -wire controls autopilot to stabilize the aircraft. Angular rate and acceleration sensors provide readings for calculating the control signals. Through small control surfaces attached to the outlet of the lifting rotors, as well as by varying the thrust of the individual lifting rotors, the M200 can be controlled. The engine failure can be compensated by the redundancy of the eight drives.
Variants
The following variants of the M200 exist: