EAGLE AIRCRAFT International has made aerodynamic modifications to its all-composite XT-S two-seat sports trainer, and will now fly a full re-certification programme in Perth, Western Australia, to prove conformity with European joint airworthiness regulations for very-light aircraft (JAR/VLA).
Having failed by 2kt, to limit stall speed to the 45kt (83km/h) maximum allowed, under JAR/VLA rules in certification testing, overseen by the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority, the Eagle had been approved for operation only at a reduced take-off weight at which it could comply, effectively limiting it to single-occupant flight.
Eagle's chief executive Nawi Abdullah says that the certification flying is expected to be completed by August, following a redesign, of the aircraft's flaps to increase their span and chord.
"Production at Perth has stopped because we don't want to continue producing the present configuration, which will not pass the stalling-speed criteria. After it is completed, we will continue to produce the aircraft here in Perth, and we plan to produce the same aircraft in Malaysia in parallel," says Abdullah. The production site in Malaysia was completed in March, and Eagle is now moving to bring it to production status.
Source: Flight International
