A PIONEERING aircraft, designed by a North Yorkshire engineer, is set to revolutionise air travel after winning a top government award.

Former British Aerospace engineer Andrew Brown has received government backing to launch a new type of aircraft.

Andrew, who founded the Boroughbridge-based Aircraft Design Bureau in March 2000, has designed an unmanned vehicle which combines the vertical take-off and hovering abilities of a helicopter with the high speed of an executive jet.

The company has now won a DTI Smart award, with help from Business Link York and North Yorkshire. The award, worth £45,000, will fund the design, development and building of the aircraft. The company hopes to test-fly the prototype by the end of the year.

The project is currently top secret, but according to the firm, the vehicle boasts an estimated speed of up to 450mph, and can hover for up to 24 hours.

The firm says it will have many potential uses in both the civil and military fields, including surveillance, crop spraying, and pipeline monitoring.

Andrew believes that future models of the aircraft could even replace low-altitude satellites, saving communications companies millions of pounds a year. Andrew, who has a Masters degree in aeronautical engineering, worked at British Aerospace for four years, as an engineer, project manager and in international marketing.

He said the roles gave him the experience to set up his own company to develop and launch his vehicle. He said: "This project is just the first of what we hope will be many great advances that Aircraft Design Bureau makes in aviation as we bid to challenge the established aerospace giants.

"I owe a lot to Roger Benson, at Business Link York and North Yorkshire, for helping me with my Smart award application. I believe that, had he not been involved, there would have been a far lower chance of receiving the award."

Mr Benson, who is the innovation and technology adviser for Business Link York and North Yorkshire, has now helped 90 companies secure £3.6 million in Smart awards in the last four and a half years. He said: "I am delighted to have helped Aircraft Design Bureau to gain backing for this very exciting project."

Business Link York and North Yorkshire offers a wide range of help and advice services for small to medium-sized businesses, or people considering starting up in business.

For more details, phone the Business Link Information Centre on 01904 686000 or visit the website at www.here4business.co.uk

Updated: 09:09 Tuesday, August 27, 2002