Farnborough Aircraft Corporation is continuing to make progress with its six-place Kestrel turboprop. The prototype has amassed 120h of testing in both Arctic and desert environments. The aircraft is in Abu Dhabi, where the team is working with GAMCO to install a new “hot weather” interior that will be able to withstand the searing ambient temperatures of the summer.
“Temperatures in Abu Dhabi are already reaching 42°C [107°F] and the aircraft is giving us superb despatch reliability. It is flying regularly in the UAE and copes well in the heat without any problems,” says Richard Blain, commercial director. “The 1,200hp [895kW] from the PT6 ensures the performance is just as sparkling at 42°C as it was in Greenland during cold weather trials.”
Certification is expected in late 2009 and production models could be built by GAMCO. The company is in a late stage of discussion with GAMCO.
Source: Flight Daily News
