Safire Aircraft has secured private investment to fund its S26 twin-engined personal jet up to and including its first flight. The agreement, with a group of private Swiss investors for an undisclosed sum, was signed earlier this month. It allows the programme "to move at full speed towards completing the design and building the first prototype", says Safire, adding: "First flight is now set for early 2004."
The West Palm Beach, Florida-based company says it has received more than 900 orders for the six-seat aircraft, which has a target price of about $1 million.
Safire says it is in final negotiations with a supplier for the 1,000lb-thrust (4.5kN) engine and plans to reach a decision by the end of this month. Agilis's TF-1000 turbofan was the original choice.
Safire is also evaluating a location for a final assembly plant "which will provide alternatives to expand as we gear towards our high-rate production programme of four aircraft a day". Selection should be completed by the end of the month, it says, and the facility fully operational by early January.
Source: Flight International
