Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES
Minor design changes, including a shorter wing span, are being made to the Javelin two-seat executive 'sport' jet, following the completion of initial wind tunnel tests at the University of Washington, Seattle.
Tests of the Aviation Technology Group (ATG)-designed Javelin showed better than expected performance, says company president George Bye. "In general we found the calculated performance to be quite conservative. We had 20% better coefficient of lift than we expected, and we are coming up with several 'tweaks' including a reduced wingspan," he says. The span will be reduced from just over 7m to 6.7m "to improve the overall handling characteristics".
The low-speed tests, conducted at the University's Kirsten Wind Tunnel, will be followed by extensive computational fluid dynamics analysis to cover the higher speed transonic range. "We will then incorporate any further changes into the model for later low-speed wind tunnel tests back at the University of Washington," says Bye, adding that the results will be fed into design refinements of the flaps, rudders and ailerons.
ATG expects to begin making the full-scale mock-up of the Javelin around September and plans to make the first flight of the initial non-conforming prototype in the second quarter of 2002. Certification of the Javelin, which resembles a scaled down Boeing F/A-18, is slated for completion after a planned flight test programme involving three aircraft and 1,000 to 1,400 test hours. First deliveries are set to take place in late 2003. The Javelin is expected to have a maximum true airspeed of more than 962km/h, a ceiling of 51,000ft, and a range of 2,500km.
ATG is also in talks with "two or three major manufacturers" on establishing a possible joint venture to make development of the Javelin as "low risk as possible", says Bye. Negotiations are expected to be concluded within 90 days, says Bye who declines to identify prospective partners. "We need to be discreet because the talks are still ongoing," he adds.
Source: Flight International
