Sci-Tech: Carter Aviation’s slowed-rotor Cartercopter

It’s been awhile since I posted on Carter Aviation Technologies and their slowed-rotor technology. Their Cartercopter may look like a gyroplane but the powered rotor with weighted tips allows it to takeoff and land vertically like a helicopter. And slowing the rotor down in flight allows the vehicle to achieve horizontal speeds comparable to a fixed wing airplane.

Their latest prototype has been performing well: Carter Aviation Breaks Five Aviation Records in Four Days – Carter Aviation – Jan.30.14 (pdf)

“We set an altitude record just shy of 18,000 ft, a Mu [advance ratio] record of Mu 1.13, slowed the rotor to a new minimum of 105 rpm, achieved a level 202 mph true speed on 325 hp at an aircraft test weight over 4000 lbs, and flew for well over an hour  representing our longest flight to  date,” exclaimed an excited Jay Carter. “We are expanding the envelope in baby steps and still have a ways to go. This aircraft should be able to fly up to 8 hours on its given fuel capacity, cruise at 220+ mph and up to 28,000 ft.” 

Here are a couple of videos of the prototype in flight tests: