Kate Sarsfield/LONDON
The mood in the business aviation community is upbeat. With aircraft orders predicted to rise over the next 10 years, aircraft manufacturers are buoyant. AlliedSignal's 1997 Aviation Market Outlook has done nothing to dampen this fever, predicting a rise in business aircraft sales until 2008 - with fractional ownership accounting for 50% of the total sales.
Concerns are beginning to grow, however, over the possible effects that the Asian financial crisis will have upon the business aircraft market. The fall-out has so far crippled some operators in the region, and could damage sales there for the next three years. Industry observers fear that the downturn could have a knock-on effect in Europe and the USA.
There were few new aircraft launches in 1997, as manufacturers concentrated on producing their existing line-ups. Two notable exceptions were Airbus, which in June entered the increasingly crowded ultra long range sector with its A319 Corporate Jet. Airbus will compete against the Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) as well as stalwarts Bombardier (Global Express) and Gulfstream (GV). All those aircraft are scheduled for certification in 1998 - except for the GV, which gained approval in 1997. Newcomer Maverick Air launched its Twinjet 1200 six seat, twin engined, business aircraft, due to make its maiden flight at the end of March. This aircraft will be available in factory and kitbuilt versions. Dassault announced last September that it is considering developing a supersonic business jet. Although no details of the project have been revealed, the French manufacturer is seeking a US partner.
Last year, there was considerable activity in the single engined sector as manufacturers grappled for a slice of this potentially lucrative market. Advanced Aerodynamics & Structures flew its Jetcruzer 500 for the first time in August. In September, New Piper Aircraft unveiled a mock-up of its Malibu Meridian pressurised turbine single and also hinted that it may produce a single engined business jet. VisionAire announced its plans for a family of single turbofan aircraft to follow its Vantage business jet, while Canada's Alberta Aerospace unveiled its two seat Phoenix Fan Jet - formally known as the Promavia Jet Squalus. The company has also announced plans to develop a four seat business aircraft derivative.AASI
Advanced Dynamics & Structures, 3060 Airport Way, Long Beach, California, CA 90806, USA;Tel : +1 (310) 988 2238;fax: +1 (310) 988 2238
Advanced Aerodynamics & Structures (AASI) offers the single turboprop Jetcruzer 500. The aircraft, a stretched pressurised successor to the Model 450, is powered by a 635kW P&WC PT6A-66A, with a Hartzell five-bladed propeller. Flight testing of the first Jetcruzer 500 began in December and AASI has a backlog of orders for nearly 115 aircraft. Certification will be based on an amendment to the approval of the 450, which was never manufactured for sale. The Model 500 is aimed at the entry level business aircraft market, and is priced at around $1.3 million. Certification is planned for mid-1998 and is expected to coincide with the opening of the new factory at Long Beach Airport, which will house manufacturing lines for the 500, a twin engined 10-13 seat StratoCruzer 1250, powered by two Williams Rolls-Royce FJ44 turbofans, and the 10-13 seat Jetcruzer 650, an enlarged and stretched version of the 500.
Aero International (Regional)1 Allee Pierre-Nadot Blagnac Cedex F-31712, France. Tel: +33 (5) 61 30 93 11 11;fax: +33 (5) 61 30 07 40
Aero International (Regional) (AI(R)) has restricted its corporate line-up to the ATR 42-500 and ATR 72-210A. The regional variants are both powered by two 1,790kW P&WC PW127E and two 200kW PW127F turboprops, respectively.
Aero Vodochody CZ-250 70 Odolena Voda, Czech Republic.Tel: +420 (2) 688 0041;fax:+420 (2) 823 172
Aero is developing three variants of the Ae270 single turboprop: the Ae 270W, a basic non-pressurised model with fixed landing gear, Walter M601F engine and Czech avionics; the pressurised Ae270P, which is powered by a P&WC PT6A-42, and will be equipped with Bendix/King avionics; and the Ae270FW and FP, which are proposed wheeled/float versions. On 15 March, Aero Vodochody signed a $60 million joint venture agreement with Taiwan's Aerospace Industrial Development (AIDC) to assemble and market the Ae-270 in Asia. AIDC hopes to sell 850 Ae-270s in the next 15 years.
AIRBUS INDUSTRIE 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, Maurice Bellonte, Blagnac, Cedex, F-31707, France. Tel : +33 (5) 6193 3333; fax: +33 (5) 6193 3792
The European consortium officially launched its A319CJ Corporate Jet at the Paris air show last year and signed its first customer three months later. Orders now stand at 10 aircraft. The A319CJ will enter the increasingly crowded large, long range business jet market, already occupied by the Gulfstream V, Bombardier Global Express and the Boeing Business Jet (BBJ).
The Toulouse-based manufacturer also offers corporate variants of its A300-600R, A310-300, A320-200, A321-100, and A340-200 airliners.
ALBERTA AEROSPACE 575 Palmer Rd, NE Calgary, Alberta,Canada, T2E 7G4.Tel: +1 (403) 250 3321;fax: +1 (403) 250 3851
Alberta Aerospace offers the two seat, side by side, Phoenix Fanjet, formerly known as the Promavia Jet Squalus. The company plans to certificate the aircraft in the second quarter of 1998 for the ab initio training market. Alberta has made changes to the aircraft, which was originally designed by Stelio Frati. These include swapping the original Garrett turbofan for a new Williams-Rolls FJ44, removing the belly mounted speedbrake, enlarging the flaps and ailerons and redesigning the airframe and aircraft systems. The Canadian company has managed to finance the aircraft through private donations, and enough cash has been raised so far to take the aircraft through certification and into production. Alberta is also planning to develop a pressurised four seat variant, which will be marketed as a personal aircraft. Changes will include increased thrust, fuel capacity and gross weight. The two seat aircraft will cost $1.575 million, with a Honeywell Primus 1000 glass cockpit available at extra cost. The four seater will be priced at around $1.9 million and is scheduled for certification in early 1999.
Bell Helicopter Textron Canada, 12800 rue de l/Avenue Mirabel, Quebec, Canada J7J IR4.Tel: +1 (514) 437 3400; fax: +1 (514) 437 6010
Bell also offers the nine seat 609 civil tilt rotor. Boeing has agreed to transfer its 49% stake in the venture to Bell. The aircraft was unveiled in November 1996 and its flight is scheduled for July 1999. Four prototypes are expected to be built and will be powered by two P&WC PT6C-67A turboshafts. With US certification on target for 2000, Bell anticipates total sales of around 1,000 aircraft over 20 years. To date, the company has clocked up orders for more than 60 aircraft.
Bell is also proposing a 22 seat variant of the aircraft called the 620, although the project launch is not expected until 2000.
BERIEV 1 Aviatorov Square, Taganrog, 347928, Russia. Tel: +7 (86344) 49839; fax: +7 (86344) 41454
The Beriev Be-103 light utility aircraft made its maiden flight on 15 July, 1997, from the Russian manufacturer's base at Taganrog. The aircraft, however, was destroyed in a crash at the Moscow air show shortly after. The Be-103 is a joint venture project between Beriev and fellow Russian company KnAAPO, which has built five airframes to date at its Komsomolsk-on-Amur production plant. Beriev has invested around 20 billion roubles in the programme and plans to market the aircraft, which is powered by Teledyne Continental IO-360 engines, for export to Canada, South-East Asia and the USA. Beriev is also looking at developing a cheaper version of the six seat aircraft, aimed at the Russian market, using a single Voronezh OKBM M-14 engine.
BOEING Boeing Commercial Airplane Group, PO Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207, USA.Tel : +1 (206) 237 2121; fax: +1 (206) 655 7004
Although Boeing offers corporate versions of all of its airliners, the Boeing Business Jet (BBJ), a joint venture between the Seattle-based manufacturer and General Electric, is becoming a popular choice for customers wanting large corporate jets. Boeing has already clocked up around 35 orders to date. Most recently, the company entered into an agreement with Executive Jet International to introduce about five aircraft into the pioneering Netjets fractional ownership programme. The BBJ combines the fuselage of a 737-700 with the strengthened wing of the larger -800 and will be powered by two CFM International CFM56-7824s. Type certification of the $32 million BBJ is expected to be completed by December 1998, with initial delivery after cabin fitting out following five months later. Boeing is also looking at longer term refinements, including wingtip extensions, higher altitude, speed and wing tip efficiencies.
BOMBARDIER Aerospace Bombardier Aerospace, 400 Chemin de la Cote Vertu, Dorval, Quebec, H4S 1YP, Canada.Tel : +1 (514) 855 5000; fax: +1 (514) 855 7401
The Canadian company has three manufacturing subsidiaries - Canadair, de Havilland and Learjet - which all offer corporate aircraft, which are marketed through Bombardier Business Aircraft, based at Dorval Airport, Montreal.
Bombardier's Global Express is a candidate for customers seeking an ultra long range business aircraft and Bombardier has already received more than 70 orders for the aircraft, most recently from its Middle East distributor,TAG Aeronautics. Global Express deliveries will begin in mid-1998.
The manufacturer has set up a service centre in Germany, a joint venture with Lufthansa, and is planning to set up a new Malaysian service centre to support the growing number of business jets which are entering service or are on order with Asian customers.
Bombardier is considering whether to launch development of a "super mid-size" business jet to fill the gap between the mid-sized Learjet 60 and large Canadair Challenger 604, and the company may also announce plans to replace the Learjet 31A in the next 12 months.
Canadair Bombardier (Canadair) PO Box 6087 Station A, Centreville, Montreal, H3C 3G9, Canada.Tel : +1 (514) 855 7983
According to Bombardier, the Challenger 604 is the fastest selling Challenger ever and the first to exceed 7,400km.
Bombardier will increase production of the aircraft from around two a month to three a month. This intercontinental business jet, the successor to the 601-3R, has a fuselage cross section of 2.9m. The aircraft is powered by two General Electric CF34-3Bs and offers increased fuel capacity and thrust capability over the 601-3R, as well as an increase in MTOW from 18,600kg to 21,600kg. The 604 also offers Rockwell Collins' Pro Line 4 integrated digital avionics. Bombardier has begun installing provisions for the Flight Dynamics Headup Guidance System on its latest 604 models. The system is scheduled for certification in late 1999.
Bombardier also offers the 30 seat Corporate Jetliner, a variant of the Canadair Regional Jet, and has recently begun delivery of five aircraft to China, which is replacing VIP Challenger 600s. Also on offer is the Challenger Special Edition, an executive version of the Regional Jet. The aircraft is powered by two 40kN GE CF34-3B1s and offers a range of 5,780km with five passengers and three crew.
De Havilland Bombardier (de Havilland) Garrett Boulevard, Downsview, Ontario M3K 1Y5, Canada;Tel : +1 (416) 633 7310;fax: +1 (416) 375 4546
Corporate versions are offered of all current production versions of the de Havilland Dash 8 regional airliner, including the standard -100, the hot and high -200 and stretched -300. The first stretched Dash 8-400 flew at the end of 1997, with deliveries planned for 1999.
Learjet Bombardier (Learjet) One Learjet Way PO Box 7707, Wichita Kansas.Tel : +1 (316) 946 2000;fax: +1 (316) 946 2220
The most recent of the Learjet family, the model 45, received US certification on 22 September, 1997, nine months later than planned. Bombardier recently announced increased cruise performance for the Learjet 45, with an improved range from a guaranteed 4,070km to 4,400km. The company is working to increase the aircraft's field performance. There are now around 140 orders for the Learjet 45.
The remaining members of the Learjet family are the AlliedSignal TFE731 powered -31, for which a replacement is being considered, and the P&WC PW305 powered Learjet 60, which is receiving a redesigned cabin, providing additional payload of 90kg.
CENTURY AEROSPACE 3250 University Blvd, SE Access Rd, Alberquerque, New Mexico 87106, USA.Tel : +1 (505) 246 8200;fax: +1 (505) 246 8300
Century Aerospace offers the Century Jet. The single engined, six seat, aircraft was unveiled at the US Experimental Aircraft Association's Oshkosh fly-in in August 1996. The aircraft is scheduled to make its first flight in mid-1999, and US certification and first deliveries are planned for the following year. Initial aircraft will be powered by the 8.5kN Williams-Rolls FJ44-1 turbofan, but Century (formerly Paragon Aircraft) plans to upgrade to the 10.2kN FJ44-2 when the engine becomes available early next century. The manufacturer will assemble the aircraft using composite fuselages and metal wings supplied by subcontractors. Century is aiming to produce four aircraft a month, and forecasts sales of around 400 aircraft, priced at $1.95 million each, over 10 years.
CESSNA Aircraft Cessna Aircraft Company, PO Box 7706,One Cessna Boulevard, Wichita, Kansas,67277-7706, USA;Tel ;+1 (316) 941 6000;fax: +1 316 941 7812
Cessna offers a wide range of business jets with its Citation series. The Citation Excel is the latest of its long line of models. The Excel, which will be certificated by mid-1998, essentially combines the wing of the Citation Ultra with the larger diameter fuselage of the mid-sized Citation X. Two test aircraft have now flown nearly 2,000h and first deliveries are planned shortly after certification. The $7.2 million Excel, which is powered by two 17kN P&WC PW545A turbofans and has a cruise speed of 430kt, will compete with Bombardier's $7.9 million Learjet 45. Cessna has reported "an order backlog into 2001".
Also available is the six seat, 2,260km range, Williams-Rolls FJ44 powered CitationJet. The 7-10 seat Citation Bravo was launched in 1994 as a replacement for the Citation II and has new PW530A turbofans and Honeywell Primus 1000 avionics. The aircraft won US certification in February 1997 and first deliveries followed shortly after. The P&WC JT15D powered Citation Ultra completes the light jet line up.
The largest aircraft in the Citation series is the Citation X. The aircraft is powered by two 30kN Allison AE3007C turbofans and has a cruise speed of Mach 0.92. It received US certification in June 1996 and has since clocked up orders for more than 30 aircraft. Executive Jet Aviation, operator of the Netjets fractional ownership programme, placed an order for 31 Citation Xs in 1997.
Corporate variants are also available for the Caravan 1, Caravan LS and Grand Caravan single turboprop aircraft.
CHICHESTER-MILES CONSULTANTS West House, Ayot St Lawrence , Welwyn, Hertfordshire, AL6 9BT, UK.Tel : +44 (1438) 820341;fax: +1 (405) 495 8383
Chichester-Miles Consultants completed preliminary flight trials of its Leopard four seat business jet in January. The project was conceived in 1982 and was first flown six years later with Noel Penny turbojets. The Leopard is now powered by the Williams FJX-1 engines and offers speeds of 435kt/Mach 0.80 at 45,000-51,000ft. The UK company plans to replace the current engines with the more powerful Williams FJX-2 turbofans, which are expected to be flown in 2000.
COMMANDER AIRCRAFT Wiley Post Airport, 7200 North West 63rd Street, Bethany, Oklahoma 73008,USA.Tel: +1 (405) 495 8080;fax: +1 (405) 495 8383.
Commander Aircraft acquired manufacturing rights for the Rockwell designed Commander 112 and 114 piston singles from Gulfstream Aerospace in 1988, although only the 114 remains in production. The Bethany, Oklahoma, based manufacturer has reported a drop in sales for its four seat 114, which has prompted the company to set up an aviation services department to increase its used aircraft business. Commander hopes that potential customers will be encouraged to trade in their old Commander for new models, which include the four-seat, Textron Lycoming IO-540-powered 114B and the turbocharged 114C.
DASSAULT Aviation Dassault Aviation, 9 Rond-Point des Champs-Elysées, Marcel Dassault, Paris, F-75008, France. Tel : +33 (1) 53 79 93 00;fax: +33 (1) 53 76 93 20
Dassault announced in 1997 that it is considering development of a supersonic business jet and is now studying the feasibility of such a project. Designs are believed to have been drawn up and Dassault is understood to be exchanging ideas with potential customers. Although details are sketchy, Dassault has revealed that the aircraft will offer speeds of around Mach 1.8, powered by non-afterburning engines which will be derived from existing commercial or military turbofans. The aircraft will seat around eight passengers.
The current Falcon line-up is aimed at the middle to upper end of the business jet market, within which Dassault offers a range of four aircraft: the trijet Falcon 50EX, powered by AlliedSignal TFE731-4s; the 900B, powered by the TFE731-4D; the 900EX, powered by three TFE-731-60 turbofans, with increased fuel capacity and with Honeywell Primus 2000 avionics and offering a range of 8,300km; and the twin engined 2000. Powered by GE-AlliedSignal CFE738s, the 2000 will carry around eight passengers for transatlantic or US coast to coast operations.
In 1997, sales of Falcon jets totalled 98, with the balance between all products fairly equal. Dassault claims to have taken over 50% of business jet sales in its market sector, for which it predicts a growth of 5-6% a year.
EMBRAERAvenue Brigadeiro, Faria Lima, 2.170 Jose dos Campos, Sao Paulo 12227-901, Brazil.Tel : +55 (12) 345 1400;fax: +55 (12) 345 1090
Embraer offers corporate versions of its twin engined EMB-120 P&WC PW118 powered turboprop, and is considering launching a corporate version of its ERJ-145 regional jet.
EXTRA FLUGZEUGBAU Flugplatz Dinslaken, Schwarze Heide,D-46569 Hunxe, Germany.Tel: +49 (2858) 6851;fax: +49 (2858) 7124.
Extra won German Civil Aviation Authority certification for the Extra E400 Tourer in May 1997, a year after it made its first flight. The six seat, all-composite touring and business aircraft is powered by a Teledyne Continental TSIOL-550 piston engine rated at 260kW, providing 245kt cruise speed and a maximum speed of 260kt. Extra has produced five aircraft to date.
FAIRCHILD DORNIER PO BOX 790490, San Antonio, Texas, USA.Tel: +1 (210) 824 9421; fax: +1 (210) 820 8690.
Fairchild Dornier was formed in 1996, following San Antonio based Fairchild's acquisition of German aircraft manufacturer Dornier from Daimler-Benz Aerospace. The product line-up includes the Merlin 23, a corporate variant of the 19 seat Metro 23 twin turboprop commuter airliner. The Merlin features a 12-13 seat interior and is powered by two 745kW AlliedSignal TPE331-12UARs. Corporate variants are offered of the Dornier 228-212 and 329-110 regional airliners, powered by 580kW AlliedSignal TPE331-5A and P&WC PW119B turboprops, respectively, and the Dornier 328JET, for which the manufacturer recently won six orders in executive jet and air ambulance configurations. The first 328JET is scheduled to enter service in 1999 with launch airline Proteus, followed shortly after by the first corporate delivery to Tyrolean Jet Service of Innsbruck, Austria.
GALAXY AEROSPACE Fort Worth Alliance Airport, Fort Worth, Texas, USA. Tel: +1 817 837 3700;fax: +1 817 837 3723
Galaxy Aerospace, a joint venture between Israel Aircraft Industries and the Pritzker family, has transferred its headquarters from Princeton New Jersey to Fort Worth Alliance Airport, Texas. The $12 million site will house the company's manufacturing, completion and service centres for the Astra SPX and Galaxy business jets.
The Galaxy mid-sized business jet made its first flight on 25 December, 1997. Certification is planned for 1998 using two flying prototypes and two static test airframes. The second aircraft is due to begin flight tests in March and deliveries are planned to begin in early 1999. Galaxy has four firm orders for the P&WC PW306A powered aircraft.
Galaxy is offering the Astra SPX as an interim aircraft with a guaranteed trade-in price on delivery of the customer's Galaxy. The company anticipates increased demand for the 20kN AlliedSignal TFE731-40 powered SPX and is increasing production by 35%. In 1998 the manufacturer will produce 15 aircraft.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE PO Box 2206, 500 Gulfstream Road, Savannah, Georgia, 31402-2206, USA.Tel: +1 (912) 965 3865; fax: +1 ( 912) 965 3084
Gulfstream Aerospace's most recent offering is the Gulfstream V long range aircraft. The first was delivered to launch customer Walter Annenberg in July 1997, following US certification three months earlier. The $32 million business jet is powered by two BMW Rolls-Royce BR710s. Also available is the GIV-SP. Executive Jet Aviation (EJA) took delivery of its first GIV-SP in 1997, for use in its NetJets fractional ownership scheme. In November 1997 Gulfstream launched the Middle East's first fractional ownership programme, along with joint venture partner EJA and private investors. The GIV-SP will be offered, and is scheduled to enter the programme in late 1999. Initially, Gulfstream will supply two used GIVs to get the scheme up and running. The aircraft will enter service late in 1998. The GV is also likely to enter the programme, although a date for entry is believed to be some time off.
Gulfstream is looking at re-engineing earlier GIIs and IIIs with CF34-8Cs.
ILYUSHIN Ilyushin Design Bureau, Leningradsky Prospekt 45G, Moscow 125190, Russia.Tel: +7 (095) 943 8909;fax: +7 (095) 212 2132
Ilyushin is believed to be designing a twin turbofan business/regional aircraft which is similar in appearance to the Canadair Challenger. Designated the Il-108, the aircraft will seat up to nine passengers. Further details remain sketchy.
ISRAEL AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIES
(see Galaxy Aerospace)
ISRAVIATION North Industrial Zone, PO Box 911, Kiryat Shmona, Upper Galilee, 11018, Israel.
Israviation was placed in receivership in September 1997, when it failed to settle state-guaranteed loans to pay its suppliers and workers. Work on its ST-50 pusher turboprop was halted shortly after. The Israeli company faced delays with its programme, citing funding difficulties and damage by Hezbullah guerrillas to its Kiryat Shmona plant in northern Israel as the main reasons. Efforts are now being made to find a new investors.
LEARJET (see Bombardier Business Aircraft)
LET AERONAUTICAL WORKS 1177 Kunovice 68604, Czech Republic.Tel: +420 632 51 1111; fax: +420 632 61 121
Let Kunovice is expecting to certificate its 19 seat L-420 in 1998. The aircraft is a development of the 17 seat L-410, equipped with 580kW Walter M601F turboprops and AlliedSignal Bendix/King avionics. The first flight of the upgraded L-420 took place in November 1993, but certification was delayed because modification were needed to satisfy FAA requirements. Let also offers the GE CT7-9D powered L-610, which is scheduled to receive US certification shortly.
MOONEY Aircraft Louis Schreiner Field, Kerville, Texas 78028, USA. Tel: +1 (830) 896 6000; fax: +1 (830) 896 7333
Mooney offers the M20R Oviation. The four seat touring aircraft was rolled out in 1994. First flight and certification followed in May and June, respectively. The aircraft is powered by a single 274kW Teledyne Continental IO-550, derated to 209kW. Mooney's four seat M20MTLS is also available, powered by a 201kW Textron Lycoming TIO-540, with a turbocharged 300kW TIO-540.
MYASISCHEV Myasischev Design Bureau, 40160 Zhukovsky 5, Moscow Region, Russia.Tel: +7 (095) 556 7776;fax:+7 (095) 556 5583
Myasichev formed a joint venture with General Aircraft of the USA and private investrors in November 1997 to produce four Myasichev designed aircraft for the US market: the M-203PW piston single; M-101-PW seven seat bushplane single turboprop; M-201PW ten seat twin turboprop; and the M202-PW eight seat, multi-role, pusher turboprop executive aircraft. Three Walter M601F powered M-101 prototypes are undergoing flight testing for Russian certification, which is scheduled for June 1998. The aircraft is expected in the USA for certification flight testing later in the year, and will be re-engined with P&WC PT6As for US certification.
NEW PIPER AIRCRAFT 2926 Piper Drive, Vero Beach, Florida, 32960, USA. Tel: +1 (561) 567 4361;fax: +1 (561) 778 2144
Since the US manufacturer was rescued from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1995 by Dimeling, Schreiber & Park and Teledyne for $95 million, New Piper has gone from strength to strength and offers a range of aircraft, including the six seat, single piston pressurised Malibu Mirage and the Seneca piston twin.
Piper's most recent development is the Malibu Meridian, which was unveiled at the 1997 US National Business Aircraft Association convention. Based on the Mirage, it is New Piper's first turboprop since the Cheyenne production line was halted several years ago. The P&W PT6A-42A powered aircraft has a maximum cruise speed of more than 260kt at an altitude of 30,000ft. With nearly 100 orders already clocked up, aircraft deliveries are expected to begin in 2000. New Piper offers an incentive scheme called Step-up, which allows customers who buy the Mirage to receive priority placement on the waiting list for the six seat Meridian.
In January 1997, New Piper unveiled its Seneca V piston twin. The aircraft was certificated in December 1996 following clandestine flight testing at the company's Vero Beach Florida base. The $482,500 aircraft is powered by Teledyne Continental L/TSIO-360-RB pistons, and three-bladed McCauley propellers.
New Piper is also studying the development of a single-engine business jet, and is examining engines including the Williams FJX-2 turbofan. The aircraft is expected to "be priced competitively".
PARTENAVIA
(see Taneja Aerospace and Aviation)
PIAGGIO IAM Rinaldo Piaggio, Via Cibrario 4, Genova, I-16154, Italy.Tel: +39 (10) 64811;fax: +39 (10) 6520160
Troubled Piaggio, which was placed under bankruptcy protection in November 1994, attempted to revive its fortunes in 1997 by cutting the price of its P.180 Avanti. The cost was reduced from $5 million to $4.4 million, achieved by replacing with locally produced metal items composite structures built in the USA. A new marketing plan is now under way and the Italian company hopes to start production of the revised aircraft this year. The P.180 twin pusher turboprop was first flown in 1986 and received US certification four years later. The company is being propped up by the Italian Government, which spent three unsuccessful years seeking a buyer.
PILATUS AIRCRAFT Flugzeugwerke, Stans, CH-6371, Switzerland.Tel: +41 (41) 619 6111; fax: +41 (41) 619 6224
US approval of commercial single engined operations in instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions is expected to boost sales of the PC-12 single turboprop. In response to an anticipated increase in sales, Pilatus has raised production from three to five aircraft a month. According to the Swiss company, now that single IFR operation are permitted in Australia, Brazil, Canada and the USA, half of the sales of its $2.3 million aircraft are expected to come from commercial operators. The 1,200kW P&WC PT6A-67B is the first pressurised example built by the Swiss manufacturer. Labrador-based Kelner Airways is the first customer to take delivery of the $2.3 million, nine seat, aircraft for commercial operations.
PILATUS BRITTEN-NORMAN Bembridge Airport, Bembridge, Isle of Wight, PO35 5PR, UK.Tel: +44 (1983) 872511/5;fax: +44 (1983) 873246
The UK company now offers only the BN-2T Islander in corporate form. The twin turbine Islander received UK certification in May 1981 and the first aircraft was delivered in December of the same year. The corporate layout has room for up to six passengers and two crew. The BN-2T is powered by two 310kW Allison 250-B17C turboprops.
PZL-MIELEC WSK-PZL Mielec, Wojska, Polskiego 3, Mielec PL-39-300 Poland. Tel: +48 (17) 7887819; fax: +48 (17) 7887226
WSK-PZL Mielec's only offering is the M-20 Miewa. The piston powered aircraft is driven by two 164kW Teledyne Continental TSIO-360s.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT 10511 E Centra, PO Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085, USA. Tel: +1 (316) 676 8674;fax: +1 (316) 676 5687
The Raytheon group incorporates the brand names of Beech and Hawker.
The Beech line-up includes the piston powered Bonanza A36, Bonanza B36TC and Baron, the Beech 1900D Executive, and the King Air range of twin turboprops. Raytheon recently signed an agreement with luxury car manufacturer Jaguar to produce around 12 Jaguar special edition C90B models in 1998. The aircraft will cost $2.65 million, around $66,500 more than the basic model.
The Hawker product line, along with the 125 family, was transferred from BAe to Raytheon in 1995. The current model is the Hawker 800XP, the Hawker 1000, having been phased out. The aircraft is powered by AlliedSignal TFE731s. The US manufacturer's newest offering is the Horizon "super mid-size business jet", which was launched in 1996 and unveiled in September 1997. Raytheon has received around a dozen orders for the $14.6 million aircraft to date. The aircraft has undergone several design changes since its launch, including a larger vertical tail and a larger horizontal stabiliser. The Horizon offers a 6,300km range at Mach 0.78. The first flight is scheduled for late 1999, with certification planned for 2001. Raytheon hopes to produce nine aircraft in its first year of production, increasing to 18 in the second year and 20 a year thereafter.
Raytheon launched its Premier I light business jet in 1995. The programme has been delayed, however, because of design changes, and the first flight is scheduled for mid-1998. The aircraft seats one pilot with seven passengers and offers a range of 2,775km with four passengers. The aircraft will be equipped with Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics as standard. US certification and first deliveries are planned for 1999.
In June 1997 Raytheon launched its Travel Air fractional ownership programme. The fleet consists of King Air B200s, Beechjet 400As and Hawker 800XPs. Deliveries of the Horizon and Premier I to Travel Air will begin in 2001 and 2003. Raytheon's goal in the next five years is to increase the programme's fleet to 106 shared ownership and 22 core aircraft.
REIMS AVIATION Aerodrome de Reims-Prunay, BP 2745, Reims Cedex, F51062, France.Tel: +33 3 26 48 4646;fax: +33 3 26 49 1360
Reims Aviation formed a joint venture in 1982 with Cessna to produce the F406 Caravan II twin turboprop, based on the US manufacturer's 400 series twin. The aircraft is manufactured and marketed by Reims, using wings supplied by Cessna. The P&WC PT6A-12 powered aircraft is intended for passenger, freight and special missions operations.
SINO SWEARINGEN AIRCRAFT 1770 Sky Place Boulevard, San Antonio, Texas 78216, USA.Tel: +1 (210) 258 3900;fax: +1 (210) 2583973
Sino Swearingen has delayed certification of its SJ-230 business jet to the third quarter of 1999, following a weight increase. This has led to a request from the US manufacturer to certificate the business aircraft under commuter aircraft rules. The SJ30-2 is the stretched derivative of the original SJ30-1. The -2 Model seats six passengers and is powered by two 10kN Williams Rolls FJ44-2C turbofans. The programme is funded by Swearingen Aircraft and Taiwanese investment consortium Sino Aerospace. Spain's Gamesa Aerospace is building the aircraft's wings for a period of 10 years. The company now has 74 orders for the SJ30-2, which is priced at $3.7 million.
SOCATA Socata Group Aerospatiale, Le Terminal Bat 413, Aeroport du Bourget, Zone d'Aviation d'Affaires, F-93352, France. Tel: +33 (1) 49 34 69 69; fax: + 33 (1) 49 34 69 71
The Aerospatiale subsidiary offers single engined light aircraft, including the Textron Lycoming IO-540 powered TB20 and the TB21 turbocharged variant. The seven seat TBM.700 , which was developed in conjunction with Mooney Aircraft, has a 520kW P&WC PT6 and a maximum cruise of 300kt.
The TB360 Tangara is Socata's most recent addition. The twin engined four seater, derived form the Grumman Cougar, is equipped with a pair of 134kW Continental piston engines in place of the original 119kW units. The TB360 is priced at about $400,000 and was certificated in December 1997. The company has recently announced that it has postponed production for the time being. A further announcement is expected shortly.
TANEJA AEROSPACE AND AVIATION (TAAL) 10th Floor, Prestige Meridian 1, 29, MG Road, Bangalore, 560 001, India.Tel: +91 (80) 5550609;fax: +91 (80) 5550955
Taneja rolled out the first indigenously produced P.68 Viator in January, which was followed shortly after by Indian DGAC certification. The Indian company originally assembled P.68s produced by now defunct Italian aircraft manufacturer Partenavia. TAAL now has orders for four Textron Lycoming TIO-360-powered aircraft, which are scheduled for roll out by mid-1998.
TAAL has also launched its long awaited Netair fractional ownership scheme.
TUPOLEV Tupolev Joint Stock Company, 17 Akedemika Tupoleva, Moscow, 111250, Russia.Tel: +7 (095) 261 2436;fax: +7 (095) 261 0868
The Russian manufacturer offers its proposed Tu-324 regional jet in corporate form. The aircraft, which was unveiled at the 1995 Paris air show, will be powered by 39kN Soyuz R-126-300 turbofans. Tupolev is also planning a long range business jet. Dubbed the Tu-414, the aircraft will be powered by BMW R-R BR710 turbofans and will have a range of 10,500km with eight passengers.
VISIONAIRE Spirit of St Louis Airport, 595 Bell Avenue, Chesterfield, Missouri, 63005, USA.Tel: +1 9314) 530 1007;fax: +1 314 530 0005
The all-composite, five seat Vantage business jet was designed by Burt Rutan's Scaled Composites and officially launched by VisionAire in 1995.
The privately funded company has already raised $15 million to fund the programme and is raising a further $34 million to take the programme through to first delivery. The aim is to make the company public by the end of 2000.
According to Visionaire, the Vantage proof of concept aircraft is achieving cruise speeds equivalent to other entry level business jets and stall speeds comparable with high speed piston singles. The $1.65 million aircraft is priced to fill the gap between the Piper Malibu Mirage, which costs $700,000, and existing entry level business jets, such as the Cessna CitationJet, at $3.3 million. The Vantage is powered by a single 13kN P&WC JT15D-5. Two certification flight test aircraft are planned, to be built by Scaled and flown from Visionaire's plant at Spirit of St Louis Airport. The first flight is planned for late 1998, with first deliveries in late 1999. Discussions are under way with the Israeli Government to set up a production line in Arad, southern Israel.
YAKOVLEV Yakovlev Design Bureau, 68 Leningradsky Prospekt, Moscow, 125315 Russia. Tel: +7 (095) 157 1734; fax: +7 (095) 157 4726
Yakovlev is believed to be working on a large business jet airliner, called the Yak-77. Although the status of the aircraft is unclear, it is expected to be powered by two 45kN Allison AE3010 turbofans. Larger models are believed to be planned, which would seat up to 70 passengers.
Source: Flight International
