Airborne

A four-seater plane has been developed in the UK that can take off from a 3,000-ft runway and cruise for 2,415 km at approximately 800 km per hour. This tiny jet, called CMC Leopard, weighs 1,812 kg -- less than the weight of many cars. CMC, the manufacturing company, is targeting this US $ 1.25 million aircraft at private pilots and air taxi services. Although, the first model was developed in 1988, the programme could not continue due to the lack of a small and efficient engine. The commercial production is expected to start this year following the nod of the engine manufacturing company Williams International, to supply a 453 kg engine for the plane ( Popular Science , Vol 250, No 6).