Max Kingsley-Jones/LONDON
CHICHESTER MILES Consultants (CMC) is expecting to fly an upgraded version of its Leopard four-seat business jet before the end of the year, and is seeking investors to enable the programme to be certificated by the end of the decade. The $1.25 million twin-engined aircraft will offer a cruise speed of 435kt/Mach 0.80 (800km/h) at 45,000-51,000ft (13,700-15,500m).
At the Farnborough air show in September, UK-based CMC displayed the first pre-production aircraft, the second Leopard to have been completed. The new aircraft has new, more-powerful engines, increased gross weights and an AlliedSignal Bendix/King electronic flight-instrumentation system. The prototype, on which some 50h of flight-tests were accomplished between 1989 and 1991, was powered by the 1.3kN [290lb-thrust] Noel Penny Turbines NPT301 engine and was stressed for a maximum all-up weight of 1,270kg," says Ian Townsend, head of manufacturing and avionics design at CMC. "The second aircraft is much nearer production standard, with a 1,816kg all-up weight and new, 3.1kN Williams FJX-1 engines. Production Leopards will be equipped with the 4.5kN FJX-2."
Following initial flight-testing with the FJX-1, the aircraft will be re-engined with the more powerful, more efficient, FJX-2 "by early 1998". Engine and airframe certification, to European Joint Airworthiness Requirements 23, is due in 1999.
Townsend says that CMC will produce further pre-production aircraft and that it also plans to complete a pressure-cell and static-test airframe. "We are seeking investors to help fund the estimated £25 million [$39 million] needed to run the programme," says Townsend. CMC is building the development airframes at its Old Sarum, Salisbury, base, but the company plans to move to a larger site for series production.
Source: Flight International
