The world’s fleet of 80 remaining twin-prop Fairchild Merlin executive aircraft manufactured between 1979 and 1986 are to be brought into the 21st century.
M7 Aerospace, the OEM license holder of the Merlin aircraft, says it is rolling out a program of extensive refurbishment and announced the sale of the first updated M7 Merlin. This aircraft, MT50, is on display at the static park.
“An M7 Merlin is a unique product. With all the available options, it’s as close as you can get to a brand-new airplane,” says Chester Schickling, vice-president.
Competitive
Schickling adds that the new M7 Merlin is more relevant than ever due to its low unit cost, good comfort, competitive fuel economy and a range of 2,000nm (3,700km).
Under the program, the company says Merlins or Metros are brought back to its San Antonio factory, where they are carefully inspected and returned to first-class condition. This includes refurbishing interiors and avionics. “Existing Merlin owners can bring their airplanes to M7 for a refurbishment or they can purchase a complete M7 Merlin from us,” adds Schickling.
M7 Merlins range from $900,000 to $1.3 million depending on specification and age.
Source: Flight Daily News
