Five years after leaving engine technology company Orbital Corporation, Kim Schlunke has reached a major milestone at his new privately-owned venture, Entecho.
Five years after leaving engine technology company Orbital Corporation, Kim Schlunke has reached a major milestone at his new privately-owned venture, Entecho.
Based in Osborne Park, Entecho is developing a new type of flying vehicle that to the untrained eye appears similar to a hovercraft, but in practice is more akin to a helicopter.
It seems like a wild concept, but Mr Schlunke and his partner, Susie Jackson, have gained backing from private investors and the federal government, which has agreed to provide a $2.2 million research and development grant over three years.
The company has also started licensing discussions with potential customers.
The aerospace industry is interested in an unmanned version of the new craft, while the recreational vehicle industry sees it as a next generation product that could supercede jet skis and snowmobiles.
“The long-term vision is an airborne vehicle that can replace a car,” said Mr Schlunke, who expects the vehicle to cost about $20,000.
The company recently completed construction of the first prototype of a manned vehicle, and Mr Schlunke said the test results were above expectations.
The prototype’s construction was preceded by extensive computer testing, mainly using University of WA engineering students who had shown a keen interest in the company.
“We put a picture of the hoverpod on the engineering noticeboard and asked ‘do you want to be part of our future’,” Ms Jackson said.
The company currently has 22 full-time and part-time workers and Ms Jackson said she was waiting for some of the students to graduate so they could join full time.
Entecho’s craft have numerous innovations but one of the most fundamental is the use of vertical rather than horizontal rotors.
The rotors are housed under a skirt that can be manipulated to control the craft.
“The key Entecho achievement has been to make a small aircraft that is just as efficient as a helicopter,” Mr Schlunke said.
The one-person hoverpod has a diameter of 2.4 metres, making it smaller than many cars, is designed to travel at up to 120 kilometres per hour, and can take off and land vertically.
Mr Schlunke said the craft was light and safe, with lightweight rotors spinning inside a protective housing.
