AeroCopter, Inc. Introduces a Revolutionary Third Generation Aircraft ``Humming''.

Business Editors & Aviation/Transportation Writers

ANDOVER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 12, 2001

The Solution to Aviation Congestion and Safety

First came the fixed wing airplane. Next came the rotor wing helicopter. Now, nearly 100 years after the Wright Brothers, arrives the third great innovation in air transportation - the Humming(TM). Designed by AeroCopter, Inc., this revolutionary tilt rotor aircraft will make regional air transportation a lower cost and more effective solution to the challenges facing aviation.

"The use of VTOL technology has offered great promise to solve a wide range of aviation problems, though to date it has not met the problems of overcrowded airports, flight delays, safety and noise pollution," said AeroCopter Chairman, Rouzbeh Yassini. "At AeroCopter, we have completely transformed the tilt rotor into a new and innovative aircraft that will move aviation into a new era."

The Humming(TM) surpasses the performance of both the jet airplane and helicopter by integrating their best features into one revolutionary vehicle that provides increased functionality, scalability, stability, and safety over existing helicopter and airplane designs.

Members of AeroCopter's Technical Advisory Board share enthusiasm for the Humming(TM)'s impact on aviation. Joseph Del Balzo, former FAA Acting Administrator and President of JDA Aviation Technology Solutions, said, "The Humming(TM) is, without a doubt, the single most cost-effective option for reducing growing air traffic congestion problems and reducing passenger total travel time. It will be the foundation for revolutionizing short haul commercial aviation." MIT Structural Engineering Professor Dr. Jerome Connor adds, "Simply put, the Humming(TM) represents a revolutionary concept in propulsion systems."

The Humming(TM) combines the best of fixed wing and rotor wing technology into an entirely new kind of aircraft. The delta wing fuselage has the seating capacity and comfort of a traditional fixed wing airplane. But there's nothing traditional about the Humming(TM).

The fuselage is encircled by one large tilt rotor, which is attached to the four fanjet engines which power the aircraft, causing the tilt rotor's outer ring and its eight blades to spin. During vertical take-off, the tilt rotor is parallel to the fuselage. After sufficient altitude is reached, it then transitions 90 degrees to be perpendicular to the fuselage for forward flight. The Humming will operate with an airspeed of 400 mph, within a 1400 nautical mile range.

The extraordinary benefits of this revolutionary design are:

-- Safety - Using only one tilt rotor eliminates the difficult task of
synchronizing tilt rotors, a weak point in conventional design.

-- Scalability - The Humming(TM) is architected to accommodate from 20 to 120
passengers with the same design.

-- Reliability - The Humming(TM) uses four fanjet engines, the most reliable
engines manufactured today, and a single rotor system.

-- Comfort - The Humming(TM) offers passengers the comfort of a large fixed
wing fuselage.

-- Versatility - Whether it's used as a regional commercial jet, a corporate
jet or by the Armed Forces, the Humming(TM) will change the face of aviation in
the 21st century.

The benefits to the community are even more significant. Using VTOL technology, the Humming(TM) does not require a runway, therefore makes better use of smaller airports, reducing congestion and the need to add on to or build costly new hub airports and the infrastructure that supports them. By taking off vertically, the Humming(TM) keeps the majority of airplane noise within the airport's airspace, reducing the impact on neighboring communities. The reduction in the amount of time an aircraft spends in arrival and departure patterns will diminish pollution.

About AeroCopter

AeroCopter, Inc. was founded in August 2000, to provide truly innovative answers to aviation's greatest challenges. The Humming(TM) marks AeroCopter's first invention. AeroCopter's Humming(TM) is pioneering the Third Generation of Airborne Transportation.

Visit www.aerocopter.com for more information and photos of Humming(TM).