Davis, CA, Nov. 1, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Paul Moller, President of Moller International, Inc. (MI) (OTC-QB: MLER), developer of the Skycar®, a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, announced today that the Company's Rotapower® rotary engine reached a milestone by producing 102 horsepower at 7,200 rpm from a single 530cc displacement rotor while operating on alcohol. The twin-rotor engine weighs 65 pounds. This result establishes a power to weight ratio exceeding 3 for the four passenger Skycar 400 engines. By comparison the popular light plane Rotax® 912 engine produces 0.76 horsepower per pound.
The Rotapower® rotary engine is expected to perform equally well during gasoline-fueled tests to be conducted in the near future. Historically the emissions characteristics of the Rotapower engine while running on alcohol-based fuels were at levels comparable to those of Ultra Low Emissions Vehicles established by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).
The Skycar 400 requires 850 horsepower to takeoff vertically on a standard day at sea level with four passengers. This test result will allow the Skycar 400 to have over 90% reserve power available in case of an engine failure on a hot day at altitude.
About Moller International (the "Company")
Moller International was created in 1983 when it was determined that a practical VTOL aircraft (a "volantor") was possible due to the development of a unique rotary engine by Dr. Felix Wankel.
In 1985 the Company acquired the entire rotary engine assets of Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC) who had produced a rotary engine to power their snowmobiles and outboards. In 1989 the Company flew its rotary engine-powered Neuera volantor before members of the press. The Company then began the development of a high-speed volantor, which it called the Skycar. A four-passenger Skycar volantor was flown in 2001 before the Company's stockholders.
The Company also developed a number of unmanned aircraft utilizing its rotary engine and flight control system (FCS). These aircraft (called Aerobots®) were developed under contracts with National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Naval Ocean Systems Center, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Naval Research Laboratory, Harry Diamond Labs, Hughes Aircraft Company, California Department of Transportation and the US Army, Navy and Air Force.
Products in development include the Skycar 400, Neuera and newly designed one- and two-passenger models of the Skycar Light Sport ("LS") series.
Safe Harbor Statement
Except for historic information contained in this release, the statements in this news release are forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause a company's actual results in the future to differ materially from forecasted results. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the company's ability to attract qualified management, raise sufficient capital to execute its business plan, and effectively compete against similar companies.
Skycar®, Aerobot® and Rotapower® are trademarks of Moller International in the USA and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.