Editing Moller M400 Skycar (section)

==Description==
The M400 is a four-seat [[flying car]], a type of VTOL personal air vehicle described by Moller as a "volantor" Skycar models from single-seat up to six-seat accommodation have also been envisaged.<ref>[http://www.networkperformancedaily.com/2007/08/just_too_cool_interview_podcas.html Interview with Paul Moller about future cars] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927185947/http://www.networkperformancedaily.com/2007/08/just_too_cool_interview_podcas.html |date=2007-09-27 }} (August 3, 2007)</ref> It is intended to be flyable by anyone who can drive, incorporating automated flight controls, with the driver only inputting direction and speed required.

The body of the M400 comprises a fairly conventional four-seat ground vehicle, which is expected to provide some aerodynamic lift in forward flight. Folding wings and a large, fixed [[horizontal stabilizer]] provide the main lifting surfaces, although early prototypes had no wing fitted. VTOL lift and forward thrust in the air are provided by four pivoting [[ducted fan]] pods which deflect air vertically for takeoff and horizontally for forward flight. The pods enclose the propellers and engines, which are direct-coupled, and have movable deflector vanes at the rear to provide additional thrust vectoring.

The Skycar is not intended to be piloted like a traditional fixed wing airplane, and would have limited pilot controls, which the pilot uses to inform the computer control system of the desired flight maneuvers.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.moller.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=61 |title=Operation |access-date=2010-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100710075948/http://www.moller.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=61 |archive-date=2010-07-10 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Rotapower engines===
The Rotapower engines used in the prototypes are being developed by an affiliate Moller company called Freedom Motors.<ref>[http://www.freedom-motors.com/ Freedom Motors]</ref> Each power unit comprises a [[Wankel engine|Wankel rotary]] engine directly driving a ducted fan.<ref name='volantor'>{{Cite web |url=http://www.moller.com/images/pdf/TXposter.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220816012843/http://www.moller.com/images/pdf/TXposter.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 16, 2022 |title=The Skycar Volantor |access-date=2010-03-03 |date=January 14, 2010 |publisher=Moller International }}</ref><ref name=rotapower>[http://www.moller.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=61&Itemid=72 Rotapower Engine Technology]</ref> The housing is lined with [[Kevlar]] to contain the fan blades in the event of failure.<ref name='volantor'/> The Skycar has four such [[nacelle]]s, each with two Rotapower engines mounted in tandem. All eight engines operate independently under computer control and, as demonstrated during a tethered flight, allow for a vertical controlled landing should any one engine fail.<ref name='volantor'/>

The Rotapower engine is based on a rotary engine developed by [[Outboard Marine Corporation]] (OMC) in the 1970s<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://freedom-motors.com/freedom_530cc.html|title = Freedom Motors}}</ref> and is claimed to be able to run on various fuels<ref name=rotapower/> including gasoline, diesel, methanol, and clean renewable [[ethanol]]. Earlier Rotapower models used [[gasoline]]. On November 1, 2013 Moller announced that the 530&nbsp;cc Rotapower engine had achieved {{convert|102|hp}} using alcohol (ethanol) on their test stand, yielding an effective 3 horsepower per pound (5&nbsp;kW/kg) of weight.<ref>[http://moller.com/dev/index.php/14-latest-news/67-3hp-lbs Moller’s Skycar® Rotary Engine Proves Ability To Produce 3 Horsepower Per Pound] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407070850/http://moller.com/dev/index.php/14-latest-news/67-3hp-lbs |date=2014-04-07 }}. 1 November 2014.</ref>

Like the M400 itself, the Rotapower engine has never entered production.