Disaster scene: Fire and rescue personnel checking the wreckage of the Jetpod which crashed during the test flight in Taiping yesterday
Avcen Limited Malaysia is based at Patimas Technology Centre, Technology Park, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur and Dacre had intended for the eight-seater flying taxi to be ready in 2010.
According to Avcen’s publicity materials, the Jetpod’s maximum speed is 550 km/h (350 mph, 300 knots). It would need only 125 meters (135 yards) to take-off or land, allowing runways to be constructed close to the center of major cities, and would be sufficiently quiet to not be noticeable above city traffic. The trip from Heathrow Airport to central London would take about 4 minutes and cost about $100.
From the promotional animation at the corporate website
FURTHER READING
2004 coverage of Avcen plans at Gizmag Avcen has plans for an air taxi, a military model and an air ambulance.
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