Romanian aircraft manufacturer Romaero has given up a longstanding ambition to manufacture upgraded, re-engined One-Eleven airliners for the world market.
The Bucharest-based company struggled for years to find the necessary $100 million funding to proceed with the revamped aircraft, known as the Airstar 2500.
A launch order had been placed in 1993 for 11 aircraft and five options from US carrier Kiwi International Airlines. This deal was struck in return for a $1 million investment in Kiwi from Romaero.
Romaero built nine standard, Rolls-Royce Spey-powered, "Rombac" One-Eleven Series 560s from kits supplied by British Aerospace, under a licence acquired from the UK manufacturer in May 1977. These were sold to Tarom and Romavia, with the last aircraft delivered in 1992. Romaero had initially hoped to begin production of the Airstar 2500 in time to deliver the aircraft to Kiwi in 1995.
The upgraded aircraft was to be equipped with the R-R Tay 650, which improved performance and efficiency by 20%. The Airstar was also to have a Honeywell "glass" cockpit. Romaero's plans were further hampered by the termination of Dee Howard's One-Eleven Tay re-engineing programme, which it planned to use for the upgrade.
The Tays were to be licence-produced by Bucharest-based engine manufacturer Turbomecanica. In the end, Turbomecanica produced two powerplants which were delivered to Romaero, but only to be subsequently sold on as spare parts.
Source: Flight International
