FOUNDAIRCRAFT Canada's plans to resurrect production of the FBA-2C light utility aircraft have progressed with the flight-testing of a rebuilt example. The Gravenhurst, Ontario-based company is flying the aircraft to collect the information required for re-instatement of the FBA-2C type certificate and the data needed for development of the improved Model 2E Bush Hawk.
The aircraft has been in flight testing since late November 1996, at Georgian Bay Airport, near Parry Sound in Ontario. The rebuilt FBA-2C is powered by a fuel-injected Lycoming IO-540-D4A5, which Found says will be available as an option to the original O-540 carburetted engine.
Found says that flight tests with the fuel-injected engine suggest that the performance of the planned Model 2E, despite its increased gross-weight of 1,430kg, may exceed that of the FBA-2C.
The company says that it has so far received commitments for 11 aircraft.
Source: Flight International
