The ITEC Maverick is a

powered parachute A powered parachute, often abbreviated PPC, and also called a motorized parachute or paraplane, is a type of aircraft that consists of a parafoil with a motor and wheels. The FAA defines a powered parachute as ''a powered aircraft a flexible or ...

aircraft with a roadable

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 ...

Design and development

Equipped with a powered parachute certified by the FAA, the Maverick received

experimental aircraft An experimental aircraft is an aircraft intended for testing new aerospace technologies and design concepts. The term ''research aircraft'' or '' testbed aircraft'', by contrast, generally denotes aircraft modified to perform scientific studies, ...

airworthiness certification on April 14, 2008, with N-Number 356MV. Capable of

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speeds on pavement, the Maverick's dune buggy-like frame of

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tubing gives it the ability to be used

off-road Off-roading is the act of driving or riding in a vehicle on unpaved surfaces such as sand, dirt, gravel, riverbeds, mud, snow, rocks, or other natural terrain. Off-roading ranges from casual drives with regular vehicles to competitive events w ...

. Additionally, the vehicle can deploy a

parafoil A parafoil is a nonrigid (textile) airfoil with an aerodynamic cell structure which is inflated by the wind. Ram-air inflation forces the parafoil into a classic wing cross-section. Parafoils are most commonly constructed out of ripstop nylon. T ...

and fly as a

. It weighs about 1100 pounds and has a useful carrying capacity equivalent to a

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has said he envisions the Maverick being useful to the Huaorani and other Indian groups, farmers and ranchers,

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inspection crews and anyone else with a requirement to traverse rough, roadless ground. ''

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'' gave it their Breakthrough Award in 2009. In 2012, the Maverick was accepted by the United States FAA to operate as an Experimental homebuilt, S-LSA, or E-LSA.

Project status

There were two accidents – in which there were no deaths – involving the parachute wing. Due to insufficient resources to re-engineer the wing, development of the Maverick has been concluded. ITEC is seeking a buyer that will continue development of the aircraft.

Variants

;Maverick URVATV (Ultimate Roadable, All-Terrain, Aerial Vehicle) :Initial model ;Maverick HPAV (High Performance Aerial Vehicle) :Transaxle removed, fan drive only ;Maverick HPRATV (High-Performance, Roadable, All-Terrain Vehicle ) :Wheel drive only, convertible to flight. ;Maverick XTRV (Xtreme Roadable Vehicle) : wheel drive only.

Specifications (Maverick)

References

External links

Maverick project web page
{{Flying cars Homebuilt aircraft Powered parachutes Roadable aircraft