GLUHAREFF EMG-300

Designed in the early 1990s the EMG-300 is a homebuilt design with a very professional pedigree. Its builder, Eugene M Gluhareff had a long career of helicopter, jet, and rocket development. He first worked for Sikorsky Aircraft in the 1940s on helicopter design, later he worked for the American Helicopter Company on the design for a rotor-tip pulsejet powered helicopter for the U.S. military. He later joined the Douglas Aircraft Company and worked on several rocket projects including the Saturn rocket for the Apollo program. Along the way he invented the pressure jet engine that powers the EMG-300. This engine uses propane for fuel and contains no moving parts. In the 1970s he started his own company to continue development of the pressure jet and vehicles to make use of it. His main interest was the use of the jets for rotor-tip jet powered helicopters including several backpack helicopter designs, and the EMG-300. Other uses have included powered hang gliders and even a go-kart. The EMG-300 was his last design before his death in 1994, it had completed an initial series of test flights, but was not completely tested at the time of his death.