Polish engineering company Metal Master has selected the Williams International FJ33-5A turbofan to power its Flaris LAR-1 personal jet, and hopes to fly the five-seat aircraft in the second half of the year.
The FJ33-5A also powers the Cirrus Vision SF50 personal jet, which is earmarked for certification and service entry later this year.
The Flaris began taxi tests in March, powered by the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW610 turbofan. Metal Master noted at that time that it was evaluating other engines to power the €1.5 million ($1.7 million) aircraft, although it will not disclose why the PW610 was not the chosen powerplant.
“We will reveal all at the Paris air show,” says the Podgórzyn, northern Poland-based company.
The single-engined aircraft will return to the biennial event, where it made its international show debut two years ago.
Metal Master plans to validate the Flaris initially under the Polish civil aviation authority’s S-1 experimental aircraft designation. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2016.
A certificated version, approved to European CS-23 standards, is expected to follow in 2018.
The Garmin G600-equipped Flaris features semi-elliptical, detachable wings – allowing the aircraft to be parked in a spacious garage – and a safety parachute system in the nose.
The carbonfibre type is projected to have a maximum take-off weight of 1,500kg (3,300lb), a cruise speed of 380kt (703km/h) and a range of 1,730nm (3,200km).
Source: Flight International
