UK manufacturer Farnborough Aircraft is here to showcase its single-engine turboprop business aircraft and promote the aircraft to investors.
It was originally called the Farnborough F1, but has now been renamed Kestrel JP10, and a prototype is on show here. Kestrel has a carbon composite airframe and is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67P. The prototype Kestrel aircraft made its maiden flight in July 2006
The production version will have a slightly longer nose to accommodate an extra baggage compartment, as well as a slightly wider and higher cabin. First customer deliveries are planned for 2010.
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The prototype has built up some good flight testing hours, amassing around 200h in total. The company has an arrangement with Bournemouth-based FRA, whose pilot Graham Archer is flying the Kestrel in the daily flying display. Archer performed the maiden flight and continues to act as the company’s chief test pilot.
That flight-testing has included some envelope expansion, and so far the aircraft has been taken to 320kt true airspeed. According to the company, this means the aircraft is well on track to attain its 352kt cruising speed target. Range with full fuel is 2,996 km.
Source: Flight International
