Seawind Aircraft has restarted development of its Seawind 300C amphibian nearly two years after the four-seat piston-powered aircraft programme was halted. This followed the fatal crash of the first prototype in Winnipeg, Manitoba, en route to the developer's base near Montreal, Canada.
Seawind sees a market for the 300C from private owners and commercial operators including air taxi companies and sightseeing firms. The company, which has received a tranche of funding from unnamed private sources, is seeking additional investors "to provide contingency and production ramp-up funding to bring the Seawind into full production".
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It says it is now working to complete the second prototype and first production aircraft which were two-thirds and one-third complete respectively before the accident. Seawind says it has lost around half of the original 120-strong orderbook since the crash but is confident it will woo buyers to fold once flight testing resumes. "Our goal is to achieve 100 advanced orders by the time the Seawind is certificated," it says.
Company president Richard Silva adds: "Over 90% of the design and drawing work is finished. The remaining efforts are primarily to complete any drawing revision resulting from the first flight tests and any that may arise as the next test aircraft is assembled. There are a few remaining tests that will require some development work, such as high-intensity radio frequency, and the firewall, which has to withstand 2,000°F [1,093°C] for 15 min."
The remainder of the in-house certification tests are routine and low risk, Silva says. "A number of devices remain to be tested to qualify for use in the Seawind, including hydraulic actuators, hand pump and trim motor," he adds.
Source: Flight International
