Manufacturer plans to ramp up production of six-seat piston twin to six a month
Adam Aircraft has received long-awaited US type certification for the A500 all-composite piston twin. The type certificate "will be upgraded to final performance and specifications concurrent with volume deliveries that begin in the third quarter", says Englewood, Colorado-based Adam.
The first customer A500, aircraft number 004, was flown in January and is in final completion. Five more are in various stages of production, with 005 in final assembly and 006 in subassembly.
With facilities in Englewood and Pueblo, Colorado and Ogden, Utah, Adam plans to ramp up production to six aircraft a month.
The company has a backlog of more than 65 orders for the pressurised, six-seat A500, which has a centreline configuration with digitally controlled Teledyne Continental TSIO-550s mounted fore and aft on the fuselage to improve single-engine safety. The cockpit has Avidyne flat-panel displays, Garmin navigation/communication systems and sidestick controls. The cabin has club-four seating and airstair door.
Final performance figures for the A500 include 230kt (425km/h) cruise speed, 25,000ft (7,600m) maximum operating altitude and 1,850km (1,000nm) range at 75% power, says Adam.
The M-309 proof-of-concept aircraft, designed and built by Burt Rutan's Scaled Composites, first flew in March 2000, when certification was expected in 2003. Approval of the A500 boosts prospects of the A700 very-light jet derivative meeting its revised schedule for certification and delivery in 2006.
GRAHAM WARWICK/WASHINGTON DC
Source: Flight International
