I bow to the John Edgley, fine plane! I am going to build something similar! With the great pleasure I will accept advice, wishes and other technical helps! may by someone flied by this machine? Thank's
Chuck, e-mail, 31.10.2009 06:58
Had the opportunity to log some stick time in 1990 as a demo flight for a Law Enforcement Agency in Florida...found it a joy in flight with a very unique feel. Too bad it didn't catch on.
Steve, e-mail, 14.08.2009 04:44
I had the pleasure of working for Edgeley Aircraft when they were at Old Sarum, Salisbury. It was a concept by far ahead of its time. It is brilliant news to hear that the manufacturing rights are back with the original designer Mr Edgeley. I wish him all the luck in this competitive world today.
Bob Begano, e-mail, 01.05.2009 20:43
I have some pictures of me with a black and white one that was in our hanger at Vero Beach Municipal Airport (Florida) around 1988. Very cool plane. Does anybody know where this plane is today? I heard rumer it was in a James Bond movie but I dont know which one.
Jim R, e-mail, 21.04.2009 00:56
I have a picture of my daughter standing in front of one of these. This picture was taken in Blaine Minnesota at Jane's Field Discover Aviation Days in May 17, 2003. I did not get to see it fly although it appeared to be fully functional. It is truly remarkable to walk around. The owner of this aircraft also owned a couple off early British jet fighters.
Bill Tee, e-mail, 20.01.2009 22:07
58 knot stall speed seems awfully high for an aircraft designed for its purpose. Also an empty weight of over 2000 lbs seems very high for a three seat aircraft. a 4 seat Cessna 172 GROSSES at little over that
freetoadventure, e-mail, 01.10.2008 18:38
cool looking plane...
http://www.freetoadventure.com/
neville .r. burton, e-mail, 17.08.2008 22:00
as final assembly foreman for the first production aircraft it was well desinged and well engineered good luck with it if possible i would like to come to your production facility good luck . neville
Emlyn Coldicott, e-mail, 14.08.2008 10:59
PRESS RELEASE
John Edgley, the engineer who established the Optica project – the radical design concept for a slow-flying observation aircraft that was so far ahead of its time when launched in the early 1980’s, is pleased to announce that he has recently repurchased the design rights plus the jigs and tools needed for production, together with three aircraft, the first of which 021(G-BOPO) is now flying again.
Today, post 9/11, there appears to be a growing market for an aircraft that will fulfil many of the roles of a helicopter, but at a fraction of the cost both in monetary and environmental terms.
The Optica can fill operational needs in both civil and military tasks for observation and detection work.
It has Short Take Off and Landing performance from unprepared surfaces or roads. It has a slow cruise and is extremely maneuverable, it also has unparalleled visibility for a fixed wing aircraft and has about twice the endurance of a helicopter.
The Optica also has a low impact in environmental terms because of its low noise levels and emissions.
It is simple and uncomplicated to operate and is a flexible platform for a wide variety of roles: surveillance, border security, pipe and power line protection, fire detection, research and rescue, anomaly analysis, coastal safety and spotting and mapping and when fitted with video and inferred cameras it has powerful day and night capabilities. All this at the costs of a fixed wing aircraft.
In recent years the business has been held back by the lack of a manufacturing base and ongoing customer support. This sadly was a major factor in bringing to a close the use of the aircraft in forest fire monitoring in Spain, one aircraft has flown some 3000 hours on fire detection duties – trouble free and on budget.
Now, after his original involvement ceased in the mid eighties, John Edgley, together with Emlyn Coldicott and three former employees of the original Edgley Aircraft Limited, has established a new company called AeroElvira Limited*, with the conviction that it is now possible to re-establish the aircraft type as a significant player in the role of aerial observation well into the second decade of the twenty first century.
The first public appearance of the Optica will be at the "Neville Duke Day"** at Compton Abbas on Sunday 17th August, followed by Sywell Airshow 2008 on the 24th August.
For more information please call:
Emlyn Coldicott tel 01932 830150 mob 079710 34452
Email emlyn@aeroelvira.co.uk
* AeroElvira Limited also owns the Sprint 160 two seater aerobatic trainer, and the EA9 Optimist glider projects.
** Squadron Leader Neville Duke was the most successful fighter pilot in Mediterranean Theatre and was decorated for gallantry six times. He went on to become one of the world's foremost test pilots. In 1953 he established a world airspeed record at sea level of 727.63 mph flying a Hunter. Later in his career he was the test pilot for the Optica.
cyberbot, e-mail, 15.05.2008 09:49
why do all the best designs seem to suffer the similar fates. I've seen videos of this plane and it's major military selling point was it's quietness in cruise mode. It was so quiet that you couldn't hear it coming up on you from a cliff, having no resonation effects. The problem with this plane and many other greats like it (BD-5, Ez-Long) isn't the design or engineering, but the success they all faced created too much pressure to develop something that they already had delivered, but weren't allowed to mass produce. Could you image if they hadn't suffered all these unlucky circumstances?..These planes would be everywhere, driving a lot of business out..Why all these planes are considered 'retired'...they are too good for commercial use!
David, e-mail, 27.03.2008 04:44
Some yease ago I had the privilage of a flight in an Optica around the Isle of White. Whilst flying we spotted a boat with a heliocopter pad on the bow. They were as interested in us as we were of them... it turned out to be the Calypso.. At the time I was interesteing in purchasing the company, but they wanted too much for it. Does any one know what the latest state is of this really fabulous aircraft?
Mike, e-mail, 15.11.2007 18:22
Martin Please e-mail me. I build Scale RC and have some questions for you. drblott@yahoo.com the e-mail links do not seem to work
Martin Waterhouse, e-mail, 09.11.2007 05:14
Eat your hearts out guys...I am a very lucky owner of an optica...Paul you are very wrong, the plane is probably the quietest piston aircraft you can get.It is air-conditioned and very comfortable to fly. Every person I take for a fly say it is the best plane ride they have ever had.The aircraft is powered by a lycoming 540....260 HP. I flew it from Kuala Lumpar to Sydney. What a great adventure.It is so comfortable and easy to fly you can go all day in it and not get tired. Most aircraft leave you exhausted after only a couple of hours.The last time I took my wife for a fly she fell asleep in it.
Marco Lütolf, e-mail, 19.08.2007 17:57
Hallo zusammen wer weiss wo ich baupläne dieses flugobiektes finde. um ein RC Modell bauen zu können...
gruss Marco Lütolf
Paul, e-mail, 25.07.2007 02:04
This aircraft was evaluated by the USAF Aeronautical Systems Division at Wright-Patterson AFB in the late 1970's (IIRC). Potential COIN or helicopter replacement. It flew right over my quarters on the base many times and was NOT a quiet airplane. In fact, it made a louder, or at least more disturbing noise than the B-52s, KC-135s and C-141s then resident.
Mike, e-mail, 14.05.2007 16:33
A promotional scale model was available at an airshow several years ago. Have not heard of it since. The Plane should be in production soon. A company in Waco Texas will build them to help with border security. OPTICA lonestar.
Albert Lambrecht, e-mail, 06.05.2007 12:32
Hello, does anybody know a reasonable scale model kit of this ac? I've seen it flying at our former airfield in Baden-Baden, Germany a long time back. There should be some slides aroung, I think.
capt val darcy, e-mail, 17.01.2007 19:46
i've always loved everything about this aircraft & im sorry theres not more of them around today.
Pat Reidy, e-mail, 04.01.2007 12:28
This aircraft should have been established years ago. It has all the hallmarks of being a first class machine, fit for purpose. I hope an investigation will be re-opened to find the arsonist/s who delayed its prescents on the world stage. Good luck to the new team
Mohamed, e-mail, 03.01.2007 18:45
can you send me a Recommendation about the Optica please???
Regards
Mohammed
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