AVCEN
AVCEN Ltd
Contents
History
AVCEN Limited (formerly a company called European Air Charter Limited, changing its name in February 2004), of London, designed the Jetpod Very Quiet Short Take-Off and Landing (VQSTOL) light passenger civil and military twin-jet range of aircraft and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) variants. Avcen Limited was the British-based headquarters, and in 2006, AVCEN opened a Malaysian office and subsidiary, AVCEN Ltd (Malaysia), based at Patimas Technology Centre, Technology Park, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur.
The proof of concept prototype crashed on its initial flight on 16 August, 2009, killing pilot and designer Michael Robert Dacre (b. 1956 in Wrexham, Denbighshire). Following this, the company ceased business.
Company References
Project Data
| Project No | Type No | Name | Alternative Name(s) | Year | Spec (Requirement) | Status | Qty | Description | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jetpod | 2009 | Proto | 1 | 2E VQSTOL proof of concept | (1) | ||||
| Jetpod T100 | 2009 | Proj | 0 | 2E VQSTOL air taxi | 3,5,6 | ||||
| Jetpod P200 | 2009 | Proj | 0 | 2E VQSTOL 8-pass. light aircraft | 4,5,6 | ||||
| Jetpod M300 | 2009 | Proj | 0 | 2E VQSTOL special ops. aircraft | 2,3,5,6 | ||||
| Jetpod E400 | 2009 | Proj | 0 | 2E VQSTOL ambulance aircraft | 3,5,6 | ||||
| Jetpod U500 | 2009 | Proj | 0 | 2E VQSTOL UAV | 2,5 | ||||
| Jetpod U600 | 2009 | Proj | 0 | 2E VQSTOL UAV | 2 |
Project References
- 'Jetpod' air taxi entrepreneur killed in test crash | News | Flight Global
- http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/10/prweb171326.htm
- http://www.gizmag.com/go/3525/
- Technology for STOVLair taxi proposal passes computer exams | News | Flight Global
- http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/02/03/jetpod_gets_wings/
- Avcen Jetpod VQSTOL | Secret Projects Forum
Production Details and Type Description
High-wing, T-tail Very Quiet Short Take-Off and Landing (VQSTOL) aircraft of aluminium and CFRP construction. Two engines mounted on the upper wing surface. Intended to be produced in a number of versions :
T100
Low-cost city airtaxi.
P200
Personal Jet.
M300
Battlefield "Transpeeder", aimed at military applications including the rapid extraction of casualties from field medical units to rear echelon hospitals.
E400
Civil air ambulance variant, and, like the M-300 is configured to carry a run-straight-in stretcher on or off its wheels.
| Production Jetpod Preliminary Specification | |||||||||
| Span | Length | Height | Wing Area | Empty Wt | Max AUW | Cruise Speed | Maximum Speed | Range | Service Ceiling |
| 36 ft 10 in | 22 ft 9 in | 14 ft 9 in | 265 sq ft | 345 mph/ 300 kn | 391 mph/ 340 kn | 800 mi | |||
| 11.23 m | 6.93 m | 4.5 m | 24.62 m2 | 555 km/h | 629 km/h | 1287 km | |||
One prototype only, built in Malaysia. Crashed on first test flight, 16 August 2009, killing the deisigner and pilot, Michael Dacre.
Total AVCEN Production1
Page Revision History
Revised at Version 2.0.0- Added Type Description and Specification details.