An extreme terrain aircraft (XTA) is an airplane capable of traversing and operating from many different terrain surfaces without the need to change landing gear or configuration. From floating bogs and shallow streams to snow covered fields and thin ice conditions, the XTA can go where seaplane and ski plane pilots could only dream of. It could be described as the Argo XTV of the aviation world; not incredibly fast, but it will take you anywhere.
At BEAST Aviation, we have a patent pending on exactly that; an all-new versatile and convenient aircraft type that you can fly virtually anywhere, at any time, at a very economical price. Our mission is to offer all-season, multi-surface, STOL performance aircraft designed for a simple and economical ownership and piloting experience. We want to give people the affordability to fly into the wilderness on their own terms and we're currently building the first prototype model.
The unique ability to quickly land in a flooded town, slowly traverse through debris-littered streets at surface level and power down to safely pick up untrained casualties make the XTA a very effective rescue craft, even as a cost-effective one-person operation.
Unfortunately, the most modern ice rescue methods and equipment still feature very slow response times for the casualty and very high danger situations for the rescue personnel. The XTA would greatly improve the response time while making the operation safer and more effective for everyone involved.
The ability to land and shutdown virtually anywhere lets the pilot accomplish a completely different task on the ground before leaving to the next site. This single-person operation could make the XTA a very high value option for some missions currently reserved for helicopters in natural ressource management, border patrol, search and rescue and large wildfire suppression operations.
In cases where the XTA is utilized instead of a helicopter, the operator is burning a small fraction of the fuel quantity, drastically reducing our carbon footprint and saving the operator a lot of money. The low-cost aspect of the XTA could also provide a serviceable rescue aircraft to smaller agencies that can't afford a helicopter, such as local fire and police departments in smaller towns.
For the average single-engine GA aircraft, flying over water or difficult terrain can be risky. Having the ability to land safely in any flat-ish 200 foot strip gives the pilot many more options in the event of a forced landing, reducing the probability of personal injury or aircraft damage.
Fishing and hunting outfitters will have a more economical aircraft option that can reach destinations not previously possible. Some alpine areas could even use the XTA as an affordable alternative to bring a couple heliskiing. Most of all, the basic XTA will be affordable enough to let the average outdoor enthusiast go wherever their heart desires.
My name is Roch Boulanger and I've been an aircraft enthusiast my entire life. Growing up, I followed my 2 older brothers' lead and joined the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, where I was able to obtain a glider pilot licence (GPL) as well as a private pilot licence (PPL), kickstarting my lifelong passion for aviation.
It didn't take long for me to realize that general aviation is very expensive, not to mention inconvenient to practice or utilize. Airport trips and fees, hangar space and fees, landing gear changes for multi-season use, the idle "in-between" seasons...it all made the bushplane ownership experience seem like a long list of expensive chores for a limited amount of real flying usage. This discovery shifted my attention to more affordable aircraft that fall into the ultralight categories in Canada or the light-sport aircraft category in the United States. Again, nothing in that more economical market could satisfy my dream of having an affordable yet highly capable aircraft with a convenient ownership experience.
After many years of searching, it became clear that my version of the ideal bush-plane simply did not exist. If I ever wanted to own and fly an aircraft that fulfilled my expectations, I would have to design and build it myself, inventing a new category of aircraft in the process. Having spent 6 summers as an Ontario Fire Ranger, it quickly became obvious that the XTA could be useful not just for recreation, but also as a tool for agencies that help people and the environment. And so, with the encouragement and support of my amazing wife, BEAST Aviation was born (Boulanger Experimental Aircraft Systems and Technology).
February 3rd, 2025: Obtained patent pending status on the new aircraft type (extreme terrain aircraft).
June 8th, 2025: First run-up of the concept Suzuki powerplant (800cc 2-stroke, 160hp) is a success.
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