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Tokoroa due for a bit of noise

The normally peaceful and quiet country town of Tokoroa is due for a bit of a shake-up in the next few months.

Yes, I've got some more development work planned on my XJet project :-)

The next month or two will see me spending a few hours a day working on my next prototype engine which, I expect, will be fired up for the first time in the depths of winter. What better time to test something that generates such huge amounts of warm air?

I will of course be ensuring that any noise produced by the testing process is minimised and engine runs will be limited to times of the day when it is unlikely to annoy or even be noticed by those within earshot. This is of course very important, given that one of my earlier pulsejet engines could be heard over 5Km away.

Interestingly enough, I have received a significant number of genuine inquiries from overseas regarding the XJet technology and now that I've managed to get myself a replacement TIG welder, the work can continue.

As before, there won't be any government grants, angel investors or other support for this project -- it'll be sweat equity all the way.

Unlike some other high-profile Kiwi endeavours, I won't be chasing the media for coverage of what I'm doing (as an aide to raising funding) and I won't be attaching my engine to a backpack or carting it off to Oshkosh with wild, overhyped claims of imminent delivery dates and performance.

My goal is to complete the next prototype, engage in some very carefully conducted and independently verified performance tests then patent and license the technology to those parties who wish to use it.

If the media does come along and want a look, I'll show them a little of what I'm doing but *no* promises will be made as to its future.

About the only time the media may be invited is when the testing is complete and I can demonstrate a working engine achieving its planned performance goals.

Since this isn't a "jetpack" that targets every man and dog as a customer, there's no real benefit to having the mainstream media hyping it up. Those who may want to license the technology will already be aware of what I'm doing and there are significant benefits to flying under the radar until all ones ducks are in a row.

I'll be doing my best to turn many years of sweat and toil into another valuable piece of IP that generates export receipts that serve to increase the net wealth of NZ in the global economy.

One thing has become very apparent. If/when this technology meets or exceeds its design goals, there will be no shortage of buyers.

So stay tuned, I may give regular Aardvark readers some "status reports" and some sneak peaks at work as it progresses.

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