(#70-1) December 10 2014. There is something very special about the practical visionaries who pioneer better ways to fly. Again and again they do what the experts thought was impossible. They defy the status quo. They epitomize creativity. They are my kind of people.

INTRODUCING A TRULY BEAUTIFUL AIRCRAFT

SYNERGY

WITH SOME TRULY EXTRAORDINARY CHARACTERISTICS

I find it hard to overstate my enthusiasm for this aircraft. It is not only astonishingly beautiful—but it is equally innovative. And, funnily enough—it re-introduces the biplane concept (which gives enormous lift within the confines of a surprisingly compact wingspan) though in a thoroughly modern way—the box-wing.

As you may recall, I was musing about biplanes the other day. I have long felt the concept still had validity. It took my friend, Tim, former Apache AH-64 gunship pilot, and a veritable encyclopedia of flight—and much else besides—to draw my attention to Synergy.

If I don’t write about aviation fairly regularly, I suffer serious withdrawal symptoms.

Synergy is best explained at www.synergyaircraft –a website which is as elegant as the aircraft itself.  These people know what they are doing.  They display impressive clarity of thought and ability to execute.

Just to whet your appetite, let me draw your attention to some of Synergy’s features—quoting their own words where appropriate.

• Synergy is astonishingly fuel efficient. Using a DeltaHawk 200HP diesel, it is projected to be able to cruise at 200MPH using only 4oMPG. That makes it compare favorably with many family cars. It uses dramatically less fuel than comparable general aviation (small aircraft) alternatives.
• Synergy is as fuel efficient as it is because it has put extraordinary effort into drag reduction. 100% laminar flow over wing and fuselage surfaces is predicted. In lay terms, the end result is that the aircraft is so slippy, it needs much less energy to propel itself through the resistance of the air.
• Synergy will seat up to 6 passengers in considerably more comfort than many alternatives. Its cabin has been designed to be particularly roomy.
• Synergy is compact with a wingspan of only 32.4 feet but a wing area of 156 square feet.
• Synergy will be pressurized with a ceiling of 25,000 feet.
• Synergy will be unusually stable and safe—but will be equipped with a whole airframe ballistic parachute.

“Synergy is a safe, slow-landing vehicle that can fly one to six people directly from town to town, in less time and at far less cost than airliners or automobiles. Its breakthrough technologies deliver the first sustainable transportation economics in the speed range between the supercar and the airliner.

There have never been any fundamentally efficient personal airplanes with the kind of seating, payload, and go-anywhere utility to compete with the family automobile. This is because no previous planes have used Synergy’s systematic approach to reducing the energy cost of regional flight. Yet the same proven principles of advanced fluid physics that give Synergy its exceptional stability, speed, and control (through drag reduction!) also make it comfortable, compact, and safer for everyone.”

There are so many extraordinary aspects to the Synergy story that I can’t remotely do them justice within the confines of this blog. But in a field where development is notoriously expensive, founder John McGinnis (with moustache in photo below) started the company in his father’s garage—and the project is largely being funded through Kickstarter.

If ever there was an example of the kind of project that this Great Nation should be encouraging, Synergy is it.

By the way, a scale model of synergy is already flying—and performing as projected. Go look at www.synergyaircraft 

You will be fascinated.

VOR words 551

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