Unique Flying Machines: EA-7 Optica

This June, we’re celebrating the Edgley EA-7 Optica – a low-speed aircraft designed for observation missions.

Intentionally created to fly at slow speeds – 108-130 km/h (67-81mph) – the three-seater craft leverages the 270-degree panoramic visibility of a helicopter but at a much lower cost than its counterpart.

The Optica is considered one of the quietest touring aircraft available.

Its first test flight was December 14, 1979, at the Cranfield College of Aeronautics, now known as Cranfield University in the UK.