Aerostar Aircraft has pushed back to 2006 certification and first delivery of the eight-seat FJ-100 light business jet derivative of the Piper Aerostar 600/700 piston twin. The Haydon, Idaho-based company is continuing to seek around $50 million to fund development of the aircraft which was originally scheduled for approval two years ago. Jim Christy, Aerostar vice-president, says the company has received a number of "unrealistic" offers from private investors wanting to take control of the company in exchange for funding. He says: "We understand that investors want to protect their interests and our business plan caters for that. But we want to retain a controlling stake."
Christie says an initial instalment of $15 million is needed to fund the FJ-100 through to certification. "The aircraft is based on a certified flying product, so we are nearly 75% of the way through the development programme," he adds. The FJ-100 incorporates a 1.1m (44in) stretched fuselage, strengthened wing, cruciform tail, increased maximum take-off weight of 3,300kg (7,300lb) and two 1,200-1,500lb thrust (5.3-6.6kN)-turbofans. Powerplant candidates include the Williams FJ33 and Pratt & Whitney Canada PW610F. The aircraft will be priced at around $2 million.
The six-seat Piper Aerostar was originally designed as a light jet in 1965 by Ted Smith and entered production in 1969 with Piper Aircraft as a piston twin. Aerostar acquired the rights to Smith's design in 1991 and continues to produce spare parts for the original aircraft under licence.
Source: Flight International
