AMMAN -- An ultralight aircraft, designed and assembled at home by a Jordanian, is set to make its second flight in the Azraq desert next month.
Commercial aircraft engineer Raji Mazahreh, who started building the plane from scratch in his backyard six years ago and has thus far spent $15,000 of personal funds to develop it, told The Jordan Times that he expects the plane to reach an altitude of 1,524 metres during its second flight.
"I made specific adjustments after the first flight, including changing the wings from single layer to double layer and using aluminium sheets instead of fibre. I use all local materials that are modified at home," the 68-year-old former maintenance manager at Kuwait Airways said.
According to the commercial wide-body aircraft engineer, what makes his aircraft unique is the front design.
"Much like a helicopter, the clear view makes it suitable for sightseeing, aerial photography, spraying or border control," he said.
The hobbyist, who worked with Boeing and Airbus aircraft and specialises in airframes, said he was devastated when he had to leave Kuwait after the 1991 Gulf War and was determined to do something important with his time.
"This began as a personal challenge after I lost my job. I love my work, and I wanted to do something that no one has done before. I am proud to say that a Jordanian is the first Arab in the Middle East to build a plane which succeeded in getting airborne," he said.
The three-seat plane, which weighs around 500 kilogrammes and is powered by an old car engine from a scrap yard, made its first flight two years ago, reaching an altitude of 15.24 metres and covering a distance of around one kilometre.
If a duplicate was built today it would take around six months cost around JD3,000, as the extra money was spent on trying out different parts, according to Mazahreh.
Test pilot Ahmad Hamideh, who flew the aircraft in 2005, told The Jordan Times that the plane could not sustain altitude on its first flight because of the wing design. He is optimistic that it will fly much further after the modifications.
"Our first flight was very thrilling; it ran better than I expected. I felt like I was one of the Wright brothers," said Hamideh, who is the general manager of Amial Scooter Company.
Americans Wilbur and Orville Wright are generally credited with building the world's first successful fixed-wing aircraft and making the first controlled, powered and heavier-than-air human flight on December 17, 1903.
The first flight, by Orville, travelled 36.5 metres in 12 seconds, at a speed of only 6.8mph.
Hamideh, a New Jersey licensed test pilot, thinks that someone should capitalise on the aircraft and its inventor's expertise.
But Mazahreh said he has no interest in turning his hobby into a business in his old age.
He noted, however, that he was sure it would be a profitable venture.
"If someone decided to manufacture these professionally, two to three planes could be produced a day and sell for around JD15,000-20,000 each," he said.
By Linda Hindi
© Jordan Times 2007
