Highway in the sky

The Carter PAV is an autogyro for take-off and landing and a fixed-wing for a cruise

A two-bladed, compound autogyro, the personal air vehicle (PAV) being developed by Carter Aviation Technologies will demonstrate slowed rotor technology. For take-off and landing it’s an autogyro, for cruise its fixed-wing.

The Carter PAV began flight-testing in October 2010 with the goal of testing and refining the flight control systems for the aircraft. Taxi tests were followed by short hops down the runway and after each test refinements were made to the aircraft controls. During each flight sensors on the aircraft, downloaded more than 60 channels of information on the aircraft’s performance to the control room computer. Four cameras also recorded the visual performance of the aircraft including the pilots and controls in the cockpit. Almost all flight controls on the PAV are automated and controlled by an on-board computer. During testing the computer software was refined several times to improve flight control and increase aircraft performance.

Carter Aerospace announced in January 2011 that they have completed the first phase of flight-testing of their new PAV. The PAV only logged a few hours of flight time during Phase I, but completed multiple take-offs and landings, including eight jump take-offs. Much more extensive flight-testing will take place during Phase II when Carter will add the 45-foot wing section to the aircraft. With the wings added, Carter will begin expanding the flight envelope by transitioning the lift from the PAV’s rotor to the wing. With lift on the wings, Carter can decrease the rotor rpm and increase flight speed. This is the basis for Carter’s patented, slowed rotor/compound (SR/C) technology.