There have been several BeechTalkers, including myself, that have mentioned this aircraft in various other threads.

Thought we'd start a thread specifically for this plane.

Although there have been comments of this being nothing more than vaporware, it seems to be progressing nicely with video updates weekly, sometimes twice weekly.


So.....

Here's some pics and some links.


http://raptor-aircraft.com/

The blog...

https://medium.com/@RaptorAircraft

The first video...

[youtube]https://youtu.be/hLY59_jImLc[/youtube]


And finally, some pic's...

IF they can do what they state, then I'm in. Even if they can do it with another 20% I'm in.

Yes, the marketing is coming along nicely.

I'm not sure what universe they plan to build it in, the numbers they give certainly aren't from ours.

Mike C.

Yes, the marketing is coming along nicely.

I'm not sure what universe they plan to build it in, the numbers they give certainly aren't from ours.

Mike C.

If this ever sees the light of day and the claimed specs are realized, he will have found a way to suspend the laws of physics, or so it would seem. And the laws of economics.

I cannot imagine this thing being built for $130K for the experimental market. Don't Lancair IV-Ps cost nearly $500K to build?

Hope I'm wrong, because this looks like an awesome concept.

I'm sure Audi is very excited to see their engine going into an airplane too.

They are awfully optimistic.

With a constant speed propeller, a diesel 300 hp engine will have the same acceleration as a 300 hp gasoline engine. It is a common misconception that a diesel, "will accelerate faster than a gasoline engine since it has more torque."

Totally agree. I'd love to see this materialize, but it really sounds like a pipe dream. If this is true, I'm all in... heck it would be a hot seller at twice the price and less features!

It's a bit unclear is this is a partial homebuilt or what. It says $130 for a "complete" plane, but then goes on to talk about the 51% rule....

But, we've seen this over and over again.... there's been lots of promised revolutions in aircraft design and cheap, faster and more capable planes... and where are they? All gone.

I still remember the Porchel Equator.... a 200kt amphibious 6 pax plane for cheap. Still have their original brochure, about 40 years old. Has evolved into a much smaller plane, and is it out yet? Who knows.

Really hope they make it, but for now, I'm keeping the Beechcraft.

I think the phrase "paper airplane" was posted in reference to this aircraft -- a phrase I enjoyed immensely and plan to use often in the future. (possibly it was from MikeC, who Dino has an amusing allergy to, despite him being the best thing on BT)

Anyone can put numbers on a page. I think if the diesel engine had "that much" magic, then it would've taken aviation by storm.

I hope it does one day, but it's hard to imagine, and certainly hard to imagine placing a deposit for one.

Mooney's experience using a Porsche engine poisoned the waters for auto engines in airplanes.

Reliability in an automotive environment does not translate to reliability in an aircraft.

Their performance numbers are based on computer simulations comparing power/weight/drag value of a Cirrus SR22 to the design of the Raptor.

There are a lot of assumptions, but it is not unreasonable to think that an airframe design with less drag and the same power can go faster.

I really like their transparency in the design process and the videos of the construction of the prototype.

What I would like to know but can't figure out is their business model - how do they think they are going to build a sustainable company selling these things at cost (or even below, as they hope)?

I would say that if they can keep their current pace on the prototype they might have a customer aircraft flying in 2 years for $175k that tops out at 260kts with 4 passengers. Not as optimistic as their claims, but that would still be quite an airplane.

And if you get in line now you can be #450 or something on the list for one...

Maybe they'll use the same purchase agreement Vern had for Eclipse. It allowed for devaluation of the dollar, so that sub $1M airplane actually cost $1.2M

I don't claim to know everything about this plane, although I've been following it for a year now. Heck, I'm still not sure how they're gonna accomplish what appears to be flush mounted glass and have it be pressurized?

I also like that they're looking into running the engine coolant through the leading edges of the the wing and canard to provide anti-icing.

As for the business model? I'm not sure either, but then again, I don't know how Amazon stayed in business for so long without showing a profit, or Tesla for that matter.

I too appreciate his apparent transparency and am hoping that this plane does prove out to be aerodynamically capable of achieving the #'s their claiming.

Nothing to do with the Raptor business model, or with Tesla.

But, Amazon has been putting every cent back into the business for years.

The coolest thing with this airplane, is that we can all throw away our aircrafts when the Raptor hits the marked. Who would pay almost 200'$ for a Cessna 210 or Bonanza from 1980, when you can have the Raptor. With almost double the performance.