Italian aeronautical company Oma Sud will launch a US sales and marketing drive at the AirVenture show at Oshkosh for its SkyCar high-performance piston twin.
The campaign is timed to coincide with the opening of a second production line for the high-wing, twin-tail SkyCar in Opa Locka, Florida along with US certification of the Textron Lycoming IO-360-C1E6-powered aircraft.
"We will present the SkyCar for the first time at Oshkosh [from 26 July to 1 August], says Dr Valter Proietti, chief executive of the Capua-based company. "The USA is a very important market for us and we expect to produce up to 40 aircraft a year at the Opa Locka facility."
The retractable-gear SkyCar received European certification earlier this year and the first aircraft is due to be delivered to US charter company Air Key West during the third quarter. "Commercial operators from across the world are taking a close look at the SkyCar for its ability to operate into remote regions," Proietti says. "The $1 million aircraft is a very affordable alternative to the costlier twin-engined Beechcraft models such as the King Air."
Proietti says the aircraft is also aimed at police forces for surveillance operations, oil companies for pipeline patrol, and cargo and passenger transport.
"We think there will be enough demand worldwide for up to 70 SkyCars a year," Proietti says.
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Source: Flight International
