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From AOPA ePilot:

"Scaled Composites, the Mojave, California, aerospace development company founded in 1982 by Burt Rutan, is building parts and components for a single-engine, four-passenger, proof-of-concept aircraft for Toyota Motor Sales. The work is under the direction of Toyota's Aviation Business Development Office. A spokesman said it will be a low-wing design and emphasized that the aircraft is not intended for certification. The work has gone more slowly than Toyota officials had expected. The aircraft will not fly until "well into next year," a spokesman said. Flight test results will be used to further refine the aircraft."

I knew that Toyota has been making noises that they were going to get into the GA market the last few years (which is something that I think GA needs--a manufacturer that can use 21st century manufacturing processes to bring the costs down), however I didn't know they were working with Burt (the composites guy) Rutan.

I think that composites are great for creating sleek shapes, but I'm not so sure how well they hold up in the real world. My understanding is once you prang a composite airplane, you're pretty much done. If this is true, disposable aircraft isn't really what the industry needs (IMHO of course!). I hope I can be proved wrong and Toyota can jump into this market to save GA from becoming purely a hobbyist activity comprised of only ultralights and homebuilts. (Not that there's anything wrong with those!)

Ben

• RE: RUTAN DEVELOPS AIRCRAFT FOR TOYOTA,jerryrosie, 12:57z, 10-08-01
• RE: RUTAN DEVELOPS AIRCRAFT FOR TOYOTA,TD, 12:40z, 10-20-01
  • RE: RUTAN DEVELOPS AIRCRAFT FOR TOYOTA,Ben Chiu, 20:40z, 10-20-01

>>I hope I can be proved wrong and Toyota can jump into this market to save GA from becoming purely a hobbyist activity comprised of only ultralights and homebuilts. <<

Agree - I kinda like the feeling of enclosure and heat in the winter but, I also would like to be able to afford it.....<]:¬)

***Reality - the refuge of those who can't handle simulation***
Cheers, Jerry

Looks like they are the second ones to try getting into this area. below is a link to what looks like a similar concept, and one that I would love to be able to purchase:

http://www.etruria.com/sideview.html

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Greetings TD:

As we all know, Toyota is a big player. (I've never heard of ETRURIA Technology, but I find it very interesting how designs sometimes reflect their origins. The 180 Vagabond from your link is reminiscent of Piaggio designs.) My hope is with Toyota's engineering skills and financial strength they'll be able to solve the some of the woes that GA has accumulated over the years.

Ben