Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC
RAYTHEONAIRCRAFT has pushed back the first flight, certification and delivery of its Premier I entry-level business jet to incorporate design changes required to ensure that the aircraft meets its performance guarantees.
The first flight of the Premier I was planned for December 1997, but has been delayed to the second quarter of 1998. First deliveries, planned for late 1998, have been pushed back into 1999, the company says. The Premier I was launched in September 1995, and Raytheon says that it holds orders "-in the high double digits."
The company says it has increased the wing chord to enlarge fuel capacity, so as to ensure that the aircraft meets the 2,800km (1,500nm) range guarantee. Fuel capacity has been increased from 1,526kg to 1,633kg. Design of the flight-control system has been changed, with the introduction of integrated aileron/ spoiler-augmented roll control. This has allowed flap span to be maximised to achieve the guaranteed 915m (3,000ft) balanced field-length while providing the roll control required for low-speed handling, the company says. A further delay resulted from the decision to install an advanced, electro-magnetic explusive de-icing system on the horizontal stabiliser, Raytheon says.
Despite the delay, progress continues to be made on the programme. Manufacture of the first two composite forward-fuselage sections has been completed, using fibre-placement technology. The first composite aft-fuselage section has been produced using the same technique, which involves automatically placing carbonfibre tows on to a fuselage-shaped mandrel. Inital assembly of the all-metal wing has begun. The fuselage sections will be joined and mated with the wing later this year.
Raytheon says that the delays have not affected its plans for a stretched Premier II, although this aircraft is not now expected to be launched until 1998. A full-scale mock-up of the Premier I is now on a US sales tour.
Source: Flight International
