The Avtek 400A was an American prototype

turboprop A turboprop is a Gas turbine, gas turbine engine that drives an aircraft Propeller (aeronautics), propeller. A turboprop consists of an intake, reduction drive, reduction gearbox, gas compressor, compressor, combustor, turbine, and a propellin ...

-powered

business aircraft Business aircraft are aircraft typically used by companies and corporations to transport people or goods related to the needs of said businesses. Most business aircraft are general aviation aircraft variants of piston or turboprop or busin ...

, which was developed in the early 1980s. Its configuration was unusual and distinctive : a low-wing

monoplane A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration with a single mainplane, in contrast to a biplane or other types of multiplanes, which have multiple wings. A monoplane has inherently the highest efficiency and lowest drag of any wing con ...

with two pusher engines mounted above the wings, and a large canard mounted atop the forward

fuselage The fuselage (; from the French language, French ''fuselé'' "spindle-shaped") is an aircraft's main body section. It holds Aircrew, crew, passengers, or cargo. In single-engine aircraft, it will usually contain an Aircraft engine, engine as wel ...

. The aircraft's sleek, futuristic design earned it a guest appearance on the ''

Airwolf ''Airwolf'' is an American action military drama television series. It centers on a high-technology attack helicopter, code-named '' Airwolf'', and its crew. They undertake various exotic missions, many involving espionage, with a Cold War the ...

'' TV series as the ''X-400'', which was used by the villain, Lou Stappleford in the ''Eagles'' episode. The Avtek's structure made extensive use of advanced

composite materials A composite or composite material (also composition material) is a material which is produced from two or more constituent materials. These constituent materials have notably dissimilar chemical or physical properties and are merged to create a ...

throughout. In 1998, Avtek declared bankruptcy without the prototype having completed the testing required for US FAA type certification. The company's assets were purchased by AvtekAir, who planned to revive the project under the designation AvtekAir 9000T.

Specifications (Avtek 400A pre-production prototype)

References

External links

AvtekAir company website

luftfahrt-archiv.de

400 __NOTOC__ Year 400 (Roman numerals, CD) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. In the Roman Empire, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Stilicho and Aurelianus (consul 400), Aurelianus (or, less frequently, year ...

Abandoned civil aircraft projects of the United States 1980s United States business aircraft Canard aircraft Low-wing aircraft Twin-turboprop pusher aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1984 Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear

Specifications (Avtek 400A pre-production prototype)

See also

References

Further reading

External links