Jetpod 'flying taxi' inventor dies in prototype crash The inventor of a potentially revolutionary super-quiet "flying taxi" has died in a crash while test-flying his prototype in Malaysia. That Jetpod range in full Any colour you like. Michael Dacre, MD of British-headquartered Avcen, was at the controls of a "Jetpod" aircraft at Tekah airstrip near Taiping when it crashed …
"This stance may have been motivated by the reflexive and mostly poorly-informed hostility towards the term "flying car" which has come to permeate much of the internet hive-mind in recent times."
Or, from the sounds of it as described, it may have come from the fact that the design is in no way a car. It's a small quiet light aircraft.
Can only agree with above comment though. Very sad for his friends and family, as well as the loss to the industry.
That is very sad news. It appears he died doing what he loved doing, but I feel sorry for his family. I have the utmost respect and admiration for pioneers like him. Sadly history shows too many people fail to support and help pioneers, but where would we be without them. So it takes real guts to stand up and fight for what they believe in, to the point some even risk their own lives in the pursuit of their dreams. We need more pioneers not less.
... and that's the good side of him. Having followed the progress of avcen for the recent years (can almost see the workshop looking out of my window), I never really liked, that since 2006, he told everyone that his flying machine was 3 months away from manufacturing. From what I read on the paper, finally he was trying to force that thing into flying (3 unsuccessful starts in one direction of the runway, followed by 3 unsuccessful starts in the other direction, and a fourth finally lifting him into an uncontrollable situation). Maybe he was more of a business-person than an engineer?
Sad it is, in any case. Our world has a great need for daring individuals working hard to realise their most fantastic dreams.
Condolences to his family.
But maybe he should have waited 'til later in his flight-test programme to try the 125m take-off run? Sounds like he had insufficient airspeed to stay up; there's a reason "real" aircraft manufacturers take "baby steps" for the first few flights (and it ain't just to give Mr Page something to bitch about, either). May [insert deity name here] have mercy on his soul.
Damn - I was getting all ready to cut you to shreds for being frivolous and not adopting the proper respectful tone at the passing of a great man - but to my great shame and embarrassment I couldn't help but laugh at your comment.
Right. Harrumph. Very sad etc etc. Coat plzkthx
Almost everyone I know who builds their own plane (loads here in the US) has a professional test the plane. Or at least someone who isn't "invested" in it. I'll bail on Mr. Darce's plane where he might well have "ridden it in".
That said, he was definitely dedicated to getting the project going. My condolences to his family and friends. I agree with others, I hope this continues development. Anything that would get me from Orlando (MCO) to Port Canaveral without paying those f***ing tolls would be worth more than the price of the tolls and the rental car.
Fifty quid, that's what, $6000? Haven't looked at the exchange rate.
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