Discovery Aircraft is debuting its XL-2 piston single at NBAA and says it plans to expand its general aviation aircraft offering beyond the two-seat type and the five-seat, twin-engined Discovery 201, which is also on display.
Discovery acquired the rights to manufacture the IFR-certificated XL-2 from Liberty Aerospace in April and is planning to restart production next year.
The aircraft – which is based on the British-designed Europa kit plane – will feature a choice of Garmin flightdecks and a redesigned interior. “We are planning to announce a major order for the XL-2 [from an international training school],” says Discovery co-founder and chief executive Rick Cunliffe.
The $240,000 Continental IOF-240B-powered aircraft will be produced alongside the 201 at Discovery’s Melbourne, Florida facility, which it took over after acquiring Liberty. Up to 25 aircraft are planned for the first year of production increasing to 100 in the third year.
Meanwhile, the multi-mission 201 is scheduled to enter service in the third quarter of next year. Production of the high-wing $1 million Continental IO-360-engined type is pegged at 12 in the first year increasing to around 75 aircraft within four years.
“We expect demand for both aircraft to be very high, so a second production facility is planned,” says Cunliffe.
Discovery is looking at other aircraft models to add to its stable. "We don't know which aircraft yet, but we are sticking with propeller-driven types," Cunliffe adds.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
