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Above: Dr Paul Moller, who has been responsible for designing an intriguing series of ducted fan VTOL aircraft. Moller International to fly like an aircraft. To improve matters the McCulloch engines were replace by Mercury outboard motors, but XM-2 was still grossly underpowered and it was decided to build a second prototype, called the XM-3. This was completed in 1968 and it used a single ring fan powered by eight small go-cart engines. When XM-3 flew it proved very stable and could undertake 360° turns without any diffi- powerful Wankel rotary engines were fitted — engine. These compact aircraft, called Aero- culty, but it still lacked sufficient power to lift and the vehicle was renamed M200X. bots, are understood to have been built for US much higher than 10ft (3m) from the ground. By 1990 the M200X had made over two Navy and DARPA programmes but have yet to Moller followed this with a two-person, hundred flights, often with Dr Moller at the — enter production. eight-engined prototype called the XM-4. controls, although the aim of achieving level Dr Moller has continued to pursue his Each ducted fan had the ability to tiltbetween flight at a significant altitude remained elu- dream of perfecting a simple inexpensive air 2° and 4° from its central axis to provide direc- _ sive. Moller’s company was now involved in _ transportation system and his current proto- tional control. A US Patent for this design the development of small UAV aerial vehicles __ type is called the M400 Skycar. This widely (3,614,030) was filed in 1969 and the goal for _ using ducted fan propulsion driven byarotary publicised automobile-sized vehicle uses XM-4 was to lift a payload of 1,000 Ib (454kg) and achieve a level speed of 300mph (483km/h) at a reasonable altitude. XM-4 was built at an industrial unit in Davis, California. It was completed in 1969, although a lengthy period followed when the project was on hold. The first hover trials using 300cc Wankel rotary engines took place in 1974, but the engines only produced enough power to lift the platform to an altitude of about 40ft (12.2m) and the original design goal remained a long way from realisation. Devel- opment of the XM-4 continued at a snail’s pace for the next ten years until new more Early test flight of the experimental Moller XM-2 test vehicle. Moller International engine. These compact aircraft, called Aero- bots, are understood to have been built for US Navy and DARPA programmes but have yet to enter production. Dr Moller has continued to pursue his dream of perfecting a simple inexpensive air transportation system and his current proto- type is called the M400 Skycar. This widely publicised automobile-sized vehicle uses powerful Wankel rotary engines were fitted and the vehicle was renamed M200X. By 1990 the M200X had made over two hundred flights, often with Dr Moller at the controls, although the aim of achieving level flight at a significant altitude remained elu- sive. Moller’s company was now involved in the development of small UAV aerial vehicles using ducted fan propulsion driven by a rotary Fans and Ducts 155 Right: Initial proposals for the Moller XM-2. Moller International Early test flight of the experimental Moller XM-2 test vehicle. Moller International