Alenia and Lockheed Martin rolled out the first C-27J Spartan light tactical transport aircraft at Alenia's Turin Caselle plant on 14 June. The aircraft is a former Alenia/Aeritalia G222 demonstrator rebuilt to the new C-27J configuration, but the second prototype will be a new aircraft and the third a G222 conversion, using a leased Italian air force airframe. The first flight of the C-27J is scheduled for late August, beginning a 750h test programme leading to civil certification late next year, with military certification to follow in early 2001. The manufacturers are conducting a vigorous marketing campaign for the C-27J, notably in Australia, which has a requirement for 10 aircraft, plus five options, and in Greece, which needs 15 transports.
Source: Flight International
