• Completed our first UAV product line design.
• Extended the flight envelop of our proto2 POC
• Started the manufacturing of production-ready 20% scale POC, proto3
• Launched a new website: www.verticopter.net
• Improved the design in the next design database (VC1.5), soon to be released.

• UAV Design Completion
• Flight Test Update
• Prototype Update
• Simulator Update
• Websites and Twitter Update
• Production Plans and Airshows
• Wrap-up

As previously stated, the Verticopter® is a highly scalable architecture.  It is destined to be licensed per a given set of applications and per a range of scale sizes.  The 2-seater version is called the “100% size”, from there 4 categories are derived, the toy one (5%), the radio-controlled one(R/C, 10-20%), the UAV (33-50%),  and manned applications (1-seater : 75%, 2-seater : 100%, 7-seater : 200%)

Over the last quarter, we completed the design of the small UAV family that ranges from 3 feet (10%) to 10 feet (33%).  This design uses a classic airframe construction.  We started the assembly of a 20% POC, which is the first product planned to be launched in second half of 2009.   This 3rd prototype (proto3) is made of standard plywood and balsa materials, unlike proto1 and proto2, which were mostly composites.  We determined that the classic rib and spar build-up with standard film covering is very efficient, lightweight, and cost-effective for these smaller scales.  However, we anticipate that larger Verticopter UAVs (beyond 33%) will require the use of composites again, since wood doesn’t provide the proper structural strength beyond a certain point.

Graphic rendition in X-Plane 9.30 of the 1:5 scale:

Our test campaign with proto2 hit a milestone with the 10th test flight at Moffett Field, the site of our previous 9 successful flights.  Although Moffett has a controlled airspace (under ATC) which requires us to give way to bigger and faster military aircraft (like F18 or T-38), it offers the perfect runway length, steady winds and runway alignment for our flight tests.  Mark has become the champion of our STOVL take-offs, with vector systematically at or beyond 45 degrees.  Most of the VTOL testing (vector between 65 and 85 degrees) is done at altitude, between 200 and 300 feet.  A standard run lasts between 5 and 7 minutes, and has allowed two data loggers and two video loggers to capture the most intimate parameters of the flights.  After each flight, we debrief and download all the data, then correlate the video from the 4 sources which allows us to scrutinize every single reaction of the plane.

Every flight has triggered one or several VTOL or STOVL episodes, at various speeds from 2.9 mph (lowest) to 26 mph (highest), and some with speeds in between, (i.e., 8mph).  What the data debrief allows us to do is to analyze how the plane entered and exited each STOVL phase.  We were able to record the commands out of the pitch gyro and record the video of the canard in action too, which gave us a better understanding of how proto2 behaves in and out of STOVL episode.

We are encouraged by the significant progress we made in those 10 flights and are continuing to explore the slow-flight performance of proto2 through another 2 test flights planned for this quarter.  After that, we will turn our attention to proto3 based on the V1.4 design.

Proto2, with its simplified platform configuration (constant cord):

Once we had completed the design of the small UAV line-up, we decided to build proto3, even though proto3 is a little too wide to fit inside the “world’s smallest workshop”, as Discovery Channel Canada described our humble design quarters.  Proto3 has a effective wingspan of 74“ (1.88 meters), which is 20” more than proto2, and 37% more wingspan (0.5 meter more than proto2).  However the weight is expected to decrease down from 14.5 lbs to 10 lbs, a 31% reduction!  The wing loading is expected to decrease very significantly too.

The main difference in construction technique is that proto3 is 100% laser-cut, done with extreme precision which results in many weight-saving measures.

Above is a sneak peek at the progress with proto3 assembly.  The wood-only construction allows very aggressive weight target, which is even more sensitive in STOVL applications.  We will be providing regular updates on the new project both on our new VCMS site (at www.verticopter.net), and via Twitter (follow @verticopter).

Another milestone has been reached with our simulator sales with the 500th simulator license delivered, also many of you opted for the upgrade package, which is for a minor fee, grant access to the whole packages of 5 planes (3 UAVs and 2 manned).
In the upcoming release, v1.5, we added a fascinating version: a 1-seater version, a very lightweight and nimble Verticopter racer that is performing like an airborne Formula 1 car, as it shares more or less the same power/weight ratio. See the picture below, side by side with Cessna 172.
     
We are delighted to pre-announce v 1.5 which will have the following features:

• New power plant setup with scimitar variable-pitch props, which dials the engine and props to an optimum setting and generate the maximum thrust in any flight regime.
• New prop governor, the prop pitch is both computer-controlled and visually animated
• New performance level, with more static thrust and more top speed , an impressive +30% gain.
• Improved elevator and pitch control, trimming in pitch is no longer needed.
• New high-speed artificial stabilizer
• New features like FMS, de-icing (pitot tube included), new checklist, new seat belts
• Goodway compatibility, fly-ins capability, night textures, cockpit lighting, new landing camera
• Many visual enhancements like night texture, pilot animation, etc..

We are in the middle of the beta-testing phase for the 6 scales and will accept more beta-testers for Verticopter 1.5, if you are currently a VC sim pilot and would like to participate in the beta program, please contact us. This testing is done with X-Plane version 9.3x

With a community rich of 500+ sim pilots and an even larger following through the newsletter, we decided to improve our internet and communication tools.  In order to facilitate the communication and exchange with our customers and readers, we decided to create a brand-new website at www.verticopter.net (nicknamed VCMS, for Verticopter® Content Management System).  This is full  interactive database that allows users to interact directly, post about their experiences flying with the VCs, create new forums, and post tips as pilots or as builders.  Of course, like any forums, several of us will be monitoring and moderating the exchanges.  Please post topics related to the Verticopter or similar STOVL craft, but be advised that other topics may not be relevant for this site and could be removed by our moderators.

At VCMS, you can already follow the assembly of proto3, with details of every single step of the assembly process.  It is a very hands-on project for our small team and it will serve to some extend as an online tutorial for other builders.

Regarding our internet communication, it was decided that our blog support will be discontinued and be replaced by the very powerful service on Twitter.com, you can follow our updates at @verticopter and read our past ‘tweets’ by searching #verticopter.