Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC
Ibis Aerospace is to unveil a new version of its single-turboprop Ae270 aimed at the US owner-flown market at the National Business Aircraft Association (NBAA) convention to be held in New Orleans, Louisiana, this month.
The aircraft will be a higher-performance derivative of the Ae270P now under flight test in the Czech Republic. Whereas the Ae270P is aimed at world air taxi and utility markets, the new version is intended to compete directly with the Pilatus PC-12 and Socata TBM700 "high-end" turboprop singles in the USA.
Powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-42, the 10-seat Ae270 is suited to short- and medium-haul air taxi and utility operations, over ranges up to 900km (500nm). For the owner-flown market, range and speed will have to be increased, the company says.
Price will also be raised.At just under $1.9 million, the Ae270P is priced "$1-1.2 million under a PC-12", Ibis says. The new version will be more expensive, but will still cost less than its rivals.
Ibis is focusing on development of the pressurised, retractable-gear Ae270P and says earlier plans for a less expensive, lower performance Ae270W with fixed gear are "under review". Unpressurised, and powered by a Czech-made Walter turboprop, the Ae270W was intended for sale to former Soviet allies.
Also at NBAA, Ibis will meet with "six to eight" potential distributors of the Ae270 for the USA, Europe, South Africa and elsewhere. After the show, the company expects to name the first "three to four" distributors out of a worldwide network of up to 16.
Source: Flight International
