Eviation Jets is close to completing negotiations with Williams International for the supply of the recently certificated FJ33 small turbofan to power the twin-engined revamp of the Vantage light business jet.
Ames, Iowa-based Eviation acquired the intellectual property of former Vantage owner VisionAire last October, and is gearing up to ferry the single- engined prototype powered by a Pratt & Whitney JP1A turbofan to an undisclosed research and development base in Latin America, where an aircraft manufacturing facility is also likely to be located.
Eviation owner and chief executive Matt Eller says the company is building a team of "well-reputed" aircraft engineers and designers "who will immediately begin work on the aircraft's redesign once it has arrived at the facility", although he suggests little work is needed to accommodate a twin-engined configuration.
If negotiations with Williams can conclude successfully within weeks, Eviation plans to have the first FJ33 twin prototype Vantage flying by the second quarter of next year.
The flight-test programme is expected to span 18 to 24 months, with final certification set for the end of 2006, Eller says.
Source: Flight International
