Improvements aimed at stimulating demand

Business aircraft makers unveiled a host of performance and safety upgrades at EBACE, as they seek to woo and retain a discerning customer base.

Most visually compelling were blended winglets unveiled for the Dassault 2000LX. Built by Aviation Partners, the devices are billed to reduce drag by 5% at Mach 0.8, increasing range without needing to carry more fuel. The 2000LX will replace the Falcon 2000EX, starting in 2010. Dassault has completed 130h of flight testing with the winglets so far, and expects to certificate them for forward and retrofit by the fourth quarter this year. Cost for the retrofit option on the 2000EX will be $550,000.

Hawker Beechcraft is enhancing its turboprop line with new engines and avionics. By the end of September, it expects to certificate a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-52-powered King Air at the B200GT. The company says the new model will cruise at 305kt (560km/h) - 20kt faster than King Air series 200 aircraft. A new avionics suite for the King Air C90 is also under way, with certification and deliveries slated for the fourth quarter. Called the C90GTi, the aircraft will have Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics as well as the TAWS+ advanced terrain awareness warning system built by ACSS.

Cessna reported that its CJ4, a stretched and upgraded version of the CJ3, will have a new diagnostics reporting system and independent alternators on both Williams FJ44-4A engines. Cessna has tested the engines up to 45,000ft (13,700m) on its CJ2 testbed. First flight of the CJ4 is slated for second quarter 2008, leading to certification and first deliveries in 2009 and 2010 respectively.

Embraer is stretching its Phenom 300 light jet by 350mm (14in) "without a weight or price penalty". The change is designed to create greater flexibility in the cabin, Embraer says. The aircraft is now the longest in its class, beating the Hawker 400XP and Cessna CJ3. First flight of the Phenom 300 is expected in mid-2008. The Legacy 600 will also get a new enhanced interior next year, with a recessed aisle and 50mm more headroom.

e_STnSGulfstream is planning a host of enhancements across its range of business jets, starting this year by offering the Honeywell synthetic vision system as an option in the PlaneView-equipped cockpits of its large cabin G350, G450, G500 and G550 cockpits. In early 2009, Gulfstream plans to install the Rockwell Collins HGS-6000 head-up guidance systems as standard on the G450 and G550. Pres Henne, senior vice-president programmes, engineering, says Gulfstream has tested a fly-by-wire (FBW) elevator control on its G550 flight test aircraft, following previous tests of a FBW spoiler control. It is also investigating fly-by-light, fly-by-wireless and advanced actuator technologies.

Source: Flight International