A potentially large international market for a low-cost utility aircraft that blurs the lines between helicopter and fixed-wing air vehicles motivated a small Salt Lake City-based company to revive the gyroplane concept. After investing 15 years and millions of dollars in research and development, Groen Brothers Aviation (GBA) is on track to FAA-certify its first production gyroplane late next year. The company's GBA Hawk 4T will be a turbine-powered rotorcraft capable of taking off and landing in a space only slighdy larger than its rotor diameter, cruising at speeds of 130-150 mph. and carrying a 1,200-lb. useful load over a 500-naut.-mi. range. If current goals are met, customers will purchase the four-place Hawk 4T for $749,000 and operate it for about half the cost of a helicopter.
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