In what may prove to be a landmark decision for the French general-aviation industry, a French commercial court has decided that bankrupt Avions Mudry will be taken over by the Avions Robin holding company, Aeronautique Services.
Aeronautique Services owner Jean-Paul Pellissier says that he plans to re-establish the Mudry range of aerobatic aircraft, based around the existing CAP10 side-by-side two-seat trainer and CAP 232 high-performance single-seater. Completing the current aerobatic line-up, the new G222 tandem-seat trainer developed by Akrotech (which is also owned by Aeronautique Services) will be marketed between the two.
For its part, Dijon-based Avions Robin will become a design and airworthiness office, with no production certificate. Production of the successful DR400 and other Robin types will be carried out by Construction Aeronautique de Bourgogne (CAB), another subsidiary of Aeronautique Services, also located at Dijon. CAB will continue to build Robin parts and supply components for the Mudry range, although a small production unit at Bernay, probably to be called Mudry-Bernay Air Services, will supply some primary components and carry out maintenance activities.
The all-composite G222 is derived from the US G202 kitplane originally designed by Richard Giles, and will be flown at the Paris air show. The G222 is being aimed for European certification at the end of this year. Improvements are also planned to the ageing CAP range, including a new wing for the CAP10 and, says Akrotech's Dominique Roland, a "-host of other changes aimed at modernising these excellent aerobatic aircraft".
Aeronautique Services plans to build around 60 Robins a year and up to 50 CAP 10/232 and G222 aerobatic aircraft. Marketing in the USA will be carried out by Akrotech USA, while another affiliate has been set up to offer the range in Australia.
Source: Flight International
