The Air Scooter is a popular ultralight helicopter for consumers, but high-end pre-assembled ultralights are a new market. Ultralights emerged in the 1970s and 1980s, and various aviation authorities have developed minimal regulations to help people fly affordably. The Air Scooter II, designed by Elwood “Woody” Norris, has been delayed due to the production of an alternative product, the AeroTwin Engine. The estimated price is around $50,000 USD. The only other company producing a similar product is Gene Corporation of Japan, selling the GEN H-4 for around $30,000 USD as a kit.
The Air Scooter is a type of ultralight helicopter produced by a private company for sale to the consumer. The Air Scooter is one of several ultralight vehicles that have been preparing for the market in recent years, and it is possibly the best known and most popular. Although ultralights have been around for a few years, and have even existed as kits, the production of high-end consumer ultralights is a relatively new market.
Ultralights emerged during the 1970s and 1980s, as a growing movement of recreational flyers developed. These people had the desire to fly without investing quite high amounts of money, even in the cheapest complete plane. As a result, various aviation authorities around the world have stepped in and developed minimal regulations to help these people be able to fly affordably while maintaining some level of security controls. Most ultralight regulations refer to both weight and speed, and these numbers differ from country to country.
For example, in the United States, an ultralight craft is considerably lighter than in any other country, and the classification known as a light sport aircraft more closely fits other nations’ ultralight definitions. In the United States, an ultralight vessel must weigh less than 254 pounds (115 kg) when unloaded, and can only hold up to five gallons (19 liters) of fuel. Also, you must not be able to go faster than 64 mph (102 km/h). Ultralights do not require certification or training, but can only be flown during the day and in unpopulated areas.
The Air Scooter II, the main art of the Air Scooter, was designed by Elwood “Woody” Norris, an inventor who made his money off hip replacement alarms and stereo speakers. The Air Scooter II weighs almost exactly 254 pounds (115 kg) without fuel and can carry up to 350 pounds (159 kg) of cargo and passengers. The vehicle must fly at about 50 feet (15 m), although it has an altitude ceiling of about 10,000 feet (3,000 m). The Air Scooter II has been in delayed development for years, and there is currently no production date announced.
The production delay has been noted to be a result of the production of an alternative product, the AeroTwin Engine. The motor is the same motor used in the Air Scooter II prototypes, but is packaged on its own, rather than part of a complete package. When the Air Scooter II becomes available for retail purchase, the estimated price is around $50,000 US Dollars (USD), making it significantly more expensive than a self-built ultralight.
There is little competition in the world for high-end pre-assembled ultralight vehicles, and only one company in the world actually produces a similar product. This company, Gene Corporation of Japan, sells the GEN H-4, a similar personal helicopter. The GEN-H4 is sold in the United States through AceCraft USA, selling as a kit for around $30,000 USD. In the rest of the world, ultralight craft can be slightly heavier than in the United States, and there are other models available for sale that in the United States would be sold as light sport aircraft, including the Vampire MK1, Ikarus C42, and the Quicksilver MXII.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
