Staying above it all: George Jetson would recognize Moller's M200G Volantor; multifuel vehicle's target applications include public safety, recreation

Diesel Progress North American Edition, Dec, 2007 by Mike Brezonick

The system is designed to accommodate the failure of an engine during hover. A second failure will lead to a survivable hard landing, the company said, and as an additional safety feature, airbags are positioned around the occupants in the cockpit.

The M200G carries 12 gal. of fuel and can operate for about an hour on that amount, according to the company. That gives the vehicle, which can carry a payload of 350 lb., a range of about 100 miles at a cruise speed of 75 mph. Top speed can be as high as 100 mph.

As tempting as it might be to consider the M200G Volantor a commuter vehicle, Calkins indicated that "our view for the role of the M200-type vehicles is more for recreation and public safety operations than for routine travel.

"It is our intent to offer this vehicle for utilitarian and recreational purposes over undeveloped terrain in ship-to-shore, cattle herding, border patrol and general recreational activities," he said. "We believe its use within an urban setting would be limited to public safety operations such as firefighting, medical evacuation, transport and insertion of tactical personnel, and other critical missions that the craft is uniquely qualified to perform.

"The vehicle's special capabilities and ease of use make it an excellent choice for these functions. Use in more general travel scenarios would necessitate a dramatic improvement in fuel economy for the M200-based products."

After a number of years in testing and prototyping, Moller has begun accepting orders for the M200G. Currently, Calkins noted, "the earliest one could expect a vehicle is late 2008 or early 2009, depending on their placement on the reservation list."

Moller is already in development with another variation, called the Firefly, that incorporates more powerful engines and has a potential payload of approximately 600 lb. "This version of the M200 will be able to operate to an altitude of approximately 6000 ft. and is intended for firefighting, search and rescue and other specialized missions that require the unique capabilities of our Volantor," Calkins said. "We anticipate that it will be ready to demonstrate by mid-2008."

Depending on order volume, price could vary between $95,000 for the M200G to $450,000 for the Firefly 3. The company is also fielding inquires for potential military and/or paramilitary applications of the vehicles.

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