BLADON Jets, which is based in Douglas, has had the world's smallest axial flow micro jet engine on display at the Farnborough International Air Show this week.

The company has been exhibiting its patented technology on the North West Aerospace Alliance stand at the show.

The technology enables the production of small gas turbine engines that are lighter weight, less polluting and lower cost than reciprocating engines (sometimes called reciprosaurs) used in almost all cars and small planes today.

Since gas turbine engines will run on just about any type of fuel, including LPG and bio-fuels, they are not dependent on dwindling oil reserves.

This year Bladon Jets announced a partnership with Jaguar Land Rover to develop a mini turbine to fit to electric cars that charges batteries on the go.

It has been awarded funding from the UK Government's Technology Strategy Board to develop this Ultra Light Range Extender (ULRE), bringing it to market before any other in the world.

Executive chairman Paul Barrett will be giving a presentation on this topic at the Future of Electric Vehicles USA 2010 in December in San Jose.

For more on Bladon Jets click here

Also see Isle of Man Aerospace Cluster at Farnborough International Airshow