ENGINE MILESTONE
Pratt & Whitney Canada has delivered the first two PW617F engines for flight testing on the new Embraer Phenom 100 very light jet. The PW617F, which completed its maiden flight on P&WC's Boeing 720 flying testbed in mid-October 2006, was selected by Embraer for its VLJ contender in May 2005. Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce has delivered its 500th BR710 turbofan after more than 11 years in service. The powerplant, which went to Bombardier, is the latest in a line of BR710s that powers the Global 5000, Global Express, Global Express XRS Gulfstream V, G500 and G550.
FIRST FLIGHT
Kitplane manufacturer Comp Air (formerly AeroComp) expects to fly its first certificated aircraft - the Comp Air 12 - to the Sun 'n' Fun show in Lakeland, Florida this month, the first flight of the single-engine turboprop. The eight -to 10-seat pressurised aircraft has retractable landing gear and is capable of 320kt (590km/h) using its 1,650shp (1,230kW) Honeywell TPE331-14GR engine with Hartzell five-bladed propeller. Comp Air is also developing the Comp Air 9 eight-passenger, fixed-gear turbine single.
AVANTI DELIVERY
Boutsen Aviation, Piaggio Aero Industries' authorised sales representative for France and Monaco, has delivered the first of eight Piaggio P180 Avanti II twin-pusher turboprops to an unnamed customer.
Source: Flight International
