CZECH REGIONAL manufacturer Let Kunovice has been offered funding to complete certification of its General Electric-powered L-610G turboprop.
The money - understood to be CKr450 million ($17 million) - is being provided by Czech bank Komercni Banka as a long-term loan. Let now believes that it can complete certification of the 40-seat aircraft to the US Federal Aviation Administration Part 25 standard, and make first deliveries in 1997.
Let has already taken several options on the aircraft, with Czech Airlines being the main customer. A company in India, which Let will not identify, but is believed to be Archana Airways, wants to buy four of the aircraft.
The L-610G is powered by General Electric CT7-9D turboprops and fitted with Collins avionics, including an electronic flight-instrument system, weather radar and autopilot.
Let has decided to power its proposed L-430 stretch version of the L-410 light transport with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT-6 turboprops. The L-430 is now being studied by the company and it will be a higher all-up weight version of the 19-seat L-410, offering a larger cargo capacity. The L-410 now offers a 1,615kg maximum payload.
Source: Flight International
