Advanced composite manufacturing technology is key to the Spectrum 33 light jet (pictured below) under development by Spectrum Aeronautical, a company formed by Linden Blue – the former head of Learjet and Beechcraft and the man behind the all-composite Beech Starship. Spectrum has acquired 51% of Rocky Mountain Composites, which plans to produce the aircraft in North Spanish Fork, Utah. The lightweight airframe is made from three single-piece composite sections – fuselage, empennage and wing – and even has composite spring main landing gear. The pre-production aircraft is scheduled to fly soon, says Spectrum, and certification is planned for 2007-8.
Source: Flight International
