Adam Aircraft is hoping to secure additional government commitments to the twin-engined A500, after revealing the US government has placed two deposits on A500s to be used in a surveillance role. The manufacturer has 56 commitments for the 250kt (460km/h), pressurised, centre-thrust aircraft, which made its first flight on 11 July. The first flight followed a compressed development programme which moved from the start of production tooling in July 2001 to the start of flight testing in just 12 months. A total of 30h have been logged in what will eventually become a three-aircraft flight test programme, working towards US Federal Aviation Administration certification by mid-2003. Adam says the six-seat A500 will be priced at $935,000.
Source: Flight International
