Liberty Aerospace has announced updates to its advanced XL2 Vanguard 2-seat trainer/tourer aircraft. The updated model is just six weeks away from becoming the production standard after the first 120 airframes have been completed at the company’s Melbourne, Florida, facility.
But although featuring a revised paint scheme and additional interior options, the beauty of the Vanguard edition goes much more than skin-deep.
It comes complete with an enhanced gross weight to 1,750lbs; toe brakes as an option; WAAS-enabled Garmin GPS; Jeppesen terrain database; and entry steps, all as a result of customer feedback.
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The XL2 is particularly popular with flight training schools thanks to its standard FAA-approved IFR ability and FADEC engine controls, not to mention the optional all-digital Aspen Evolution pro-primary flight display (PFD) system, Garmin GTX 330 transponder with traffic avoidance; and GPS-coupled S-TEC 30 dual-axis autopilot.
An Insight True Flow 500 fuel-flow computer, coupled directly to the GPS for live in-flight fuel management, is also available to manage the 5-gph capability when cruising at 125kts.
Two Vanguard edition XL2s are on display at Liberty’s stand
Speaking at the show yesterday business development manager Paul Everitt said that a deal to build and sell 600 airframes to the Chinese government at a new Liberty-run factory in Anyang is currently on-hold. Everitt says: “The Chinese authorities are paranoid about light aircraft flying in private hands during the period before - and during - the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing.
“Two Florida-built airframes were recently shipped to China for test-flying, but the authorities have grounded them and put them under guard in an Anyang hangar - and even at one stage demanded that the engines should be removed! Everything will return to normal as soon as the Games are over and test flying and production will be resumed.”
Source: Flight International
