Ayres has announced additional orders for its LM200 Loadmaster single-turboprop freighter, taking its firm orderbook to 67 aircraft, including 50 for launch customer FedEx. The biggest new order is from Billings, Montana-based Corporate Air, which has ordered ten, with options on an addidtional 20.
Corporate Air has a fleet of more than 90 aircraft, and is a FedEx feeder carrier operating Cessna Caravans and Shorts 360s. The carrier has aircraft based worldwide, including the Phillipines and Thailand, and is expected to base some of its Loadmasters overseas.
Other new customers include Netherlands leasing company Duijvestijn Aviation, which has ordered five, with five options, and South Africa's Orsmond Aviation, which has ordered two aircraft.
Ayres says that it has several other orders "in the works" and expects to have sold out the first to years of production by September.
The Albany, Georgia-based company plans to build 12 Loadmasters in 1999 and 48 in 2000. FedEx will take every second aircraft, beginning with the 11th Loadmaster, due for delivery in December 1999. Planned production of four per month is to be reached early in 2000.
Source: Flight International
