On 23.4.2008 Swen Lehner flew Werner Meuser's Ventus-2cxa for the first time with a jet-sustainer-unit. He began the first tests regarding air starting characteristics and climb values. The uncompromisingly optimised for performance designed A-fuselage has been extended in the cockpit area in such a way that now also pilots up to 1,90m body length are able to fit in. The 2 cm more width and the increased leg space are very effective. The result and the impressions of numerous pilots who have sat in the cockpit displayed a positive result. However the place inside the fuselage behind the seat is still small and the only reasonable solution for an engine was the small Olympus Jet from the company AMT. The additional weight of the Jet system in the fuselage is only approx. 8kg, the additional 10 kg weight is caused by the wing tanks. The jet has a fuel consumption of approx. 0,6 to 0.8 litres per minute. Therefore is it necessary to install larger capacity fuel cells. For this reason we equipped the prototype airplane with three tanks. One fuselage tank with 8 litres and two wing tanks (each 10 litres capacity), so that we presumably reach a somewhat shorter engine running time as compared with the conventional turbo-system. The jet control unit is designed by Martin Käppeler and is very easy to operate. The first flights confirmed our expectations and we achieved a climb rate of 0,6 to 0,7m/sec with full power setting. However we are now beginning the testing of this system and surely there will be more tests and modifications necessary to get the production stage for every day use.
