The CarterCopter Header ImageWe have covered many concepts concerning personal modes of transport in Thoughts from the Sidelines, including a number of Personal Airborne Vehicles – in particular the battle to deliver the first mass produced flying car - but none has quite set my pulses racing like the CarterCopter (though admittedly the name isn’t quite as catchy as perhaps it ought to be).

A hybrid fusion between a fixed wing plane and an autogyro, the CarterCopter will not only get airborne from the tightest of spots but it will also transport you at up to 500mph to your destination of choice. Of course, the fact that it looks totally awesome doesn’t hurt either.

The CarterCopter Inflight

Further Features:

  • Engine - Turbo Delta Hawk Engine - 200 HP to 17.5K ft
  • 34 ft Wing Span & Rotor Diameter
  • 2400 lb Gross Weight
  • 1000 lb Empty Weight
  • 400 lb Max Fuel
  • 4 Place
  • Large baggage compartment

Developed with assistance from some chaps at NASA, the CarterCopter is the brainchild of Jay Carter Jr, of CarterCopters Inc., the CarterCopter will offer the executive the ability to take off from the rooftop of their workplace or even the car park using the vertical takeoff capabilities of the rotor and transfer soon after to wing borne flight so as to allow travel at speed above weather systems at altitudes of 45,000ft. And, whilst cruising along at 500mph, I suspect that it’s almost obligatory that one looks down at the gridlocked road network with a thinly veiled smile prior to phoning the family on the cell to tell them you’ll be home in five.

Not convinced? Here is a rather slick video presentation that could just sway you.

[etv]

Forget your flying cars, the CarterCopter would certainly be my preferred choice of transport and I think it helps that the creators have a decent website to back the product up in this respect as I have noticed that some of the websites behind certain previously featured concepts have been at best extremely poor and at worst a complete travesty. After all, if you have a concept that you believe is worth shouting about, why produce a website that can barley manage a whimper?

The CarterCopter Turning
I think you’ll agree - a truly magnificent machine.

The CarterCopter is still at prototype stage and is not yet commercially available, however the company are looking for investors and a manufacturer and I for one would hope that investors do back the venture generously as this concept obviously deserves to succeed. Consequently, pricing concerning the CarterCopter is not available at this stage.

The official website has a host of information concerning this project and it is well worth a visit. You can link directly here. Of note, the company have also released a freely available model of the CarterCopter for the X-Plane flight simulator which can be accessed directly here.





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  1. Wormbrain |

    This is great. That video was pretty cool, but the cheesy rock music was making me ill.
    I want one.

  2. pascal |

    How do you expect to get to your 500 mph with this size rotor 34 feet the end of bade your must be over supersonic speed ?? no?
    Pascal

  3. Admin |

    Pascal, thanks for your comment.

    As I understand it at high speed the power to the rotors is cut and the aircraft relies on its wings for lift. This gets around this problem.

  4. The Hummel Light Helicopter Concept » Thoughts from the Sidelines - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities |

    [...] the fabulous previously featured CarterCopter – covered, complete with video, in this posting - the Hummel (meaning ‘Bumble Bee’) is only a concept, but it’s a rather remarkable [...]



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