Early in 2007, the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority announced a new class of aircraft, known clumsily as the Single Seat De-Regulated (SSDR) class. This greatly reduces the paperwork needed to design, build and fly an aircraft, as long as it fulfils certain criteria. Then the PFA (now the LAA) announced a competition for designs in this category, with a class for cheap and easy-to-build, and a class for state-of-the-art. We responded to the challenge by designing a state-of-the-art entry - the e-Go.

We originally entered the PFA (now LAA) competition for the challenge - and to realise our long-held ambitions to design a complete airplane. Once into it, we developed a determination to win...

After winning, we were overwhelmed with the immediate demand for it, so we got serious about building it, flying it and supplying it to others.

Step one was to develop the design , which we’ve done using 3D design tools to ensure that it really will fit together, and come out under 115 kg. We’ve done extensive development of the basic technology, analysis of the design, including a flight simulation using x-plane, wind tunnel testing and computer analyses of the aerodynamics and structure. We’re designing it to LSA, ELA and microlight standards.

Step two is to build and test an experimental version, which we’re working on. We plan to get it flying in Q2 2012

Step three will be to turn it into a highly desirable product, setting up finance, marketing, distribution, production, support and everything else. If all goes well, we should be launching the product in the Spring of 2012, getting into production in late 2012.