Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES
Safire Aircraft, a Florida-based manufacturer developing a new-generation, six-seat personal jet, has named Agilis Engines as its powerplant supplier, replacing Williams, which instead has tied up an exclusive deal with Eclipse Aviation to develop a rival aircraft.
Agilis, also based in Florida, is a relatively unknown company formed in 1993 by former Pratt & Whitney engineer Frank O'Neil. According to Safire, Agilis Engines specialises in providing "design services to all the big engine manufacturers, which no other engine company can provide". It is thought to have been involved in classified defence programmes.
The company was linked in 1996 with a failed attempt by China to recruit US engineers to obtain "hot section" technology for its indigenous fighter-engine industry.
Safire's agreement with Agilis covers the supply of 1,000 turbofan engines in the "800lb [3.5kN]-thrust class" for its aircraft, the S-26. Agilis says: "The powerplant is designed for applications requiring from 550-1,200lb of thrust, at a lower projected cost per pound of thrust than that of competitors".
Agilis declines to reveal the engine's configuration, or where it will be developed and built. The engine is to power the S-26 on its planned maiden flight in April 2002 and is set for certification in 2003.
Safire president Michael Margaritoff says: "The engine will remain secret for as long as possible because of its revolutionary design." He claims that sales of the low-cost S-26 continue to boom, despite the launch of the Eclipse programme and the departure of Williams with its FJX-2 turbofan (Flight International, 7-13 March). The company took the 400th deposit for the S-26 last week.
Margaritoff says: "We don't have to take what Williams was going to deliver and we would have had a delay to the programme if we'd stayed with them."
Source: Flight International
