Czech-Taiwanese joint venture Ibis Aerospace is planning to name at the Paris air show the first three distributors, of a planned worldwide network of 16, for its 10-seat Ae270 single engine turboprop family.
The Kerrville, Texas-based company is also expected to unveil a 30-strong orderbook which could be boosted to nearly 70 aircraft. The orders are for the Ae270P, aimed at the air taxi market, and the new Ae270HP business aircraft.
"We are concentrating on developing the Ae270P variant initially. The aircraft [which has a retractable gear, pressurised cabin and a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-42] has completed 50h of flight testing so far and the second flying prototype is set to join the programme next month. Our schedule calls for certification by the middle of next year and first deliveries by the end of the year," says Ibis international marketing director Jeff Conrad.
The first Ae270HP, driven by a more powerful PT6A-66 engine is slated for certification and first deliveries in December 2002 and early 2003.
Ibis continues to review the market for a lower performance, fixed gear variant powered by a Czech-made Walter turboprop.
Source: Flight International
