Richard Noble, the man behind the successful ThrustSSC supersonic jet powered world land speed record attempt in 1997, has launched a project to build a five-seater single turboprop, the Farnborough F1. He hopes to market the aircraft to companies interested in creating networks of air taxis, allowing business travellers to bypass the increasingly congested commercial air transport system in Europe and the USA.
He has lined up a team of sponsors and says the company, like its website, known as Farnborough-Aircraft.com, intends to do business entirely over the Internet, a concept built on Noble's experience with ThrustSSC.
As if to emphasis the impact the Internet could have on aviation sales, corporate aviation giant Gulfstream Aerospace has announced that it had sold a $22.9 million Gulfstream IV over the Internet in what is believed to be the largest transaction of its type in the aerospace industry.
The F1 is to be entirely composite and powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A turbine, driving a low RPM propeller. It will be pressurised and have a 300kt (555km/h) maximum operating speed. Noble expects prototypes to be ready in 2001, with the first flight in 2002.
A retractable but "agricultural" undercarriage and large single-slotted fowler flaps will give short take-off and landing. Estimated retail price will be $1.9 million.
Source: Flight International
