Orders for two-seat piston single begin to arrive as new owner completes acquisition
Symphony Aircraft Industries (SAI), the new owner of the Symphony line of high-wing piston singles, has begun taking orders for the two-seat Symphony 160 and has started a design re-evaluation of the four-seat Symphony 250 variant.
Trois-Rivières, Canada-based SAI has earmarked first deliveries of the C$170,000 ($130,000) Symphony 160 for the fourth quarter after completing the acquisition of design rights for the aircraft from OMF Canada, the former subsidiary of German manufacturer Ostmecklenburgische Flugzeugbau (OMF), last month.
SAI has also reached an agreement with OMF Flugzeugwerke (OMF-DE), which acquired the assets of OMF following its bankruptcy, to produce and market the 160 in Africa, Europe and the Middle East (Flight International, 20-26 July).
Neubrandenburg, Germany-based OMF-DE will also develop the Symphony 135D, powered by the Thielert Aircraft Engines Centurion 1.7 diesel-cycle engine. The €125,000 ($151,000) 135D is earmarked for certification by the end of the year.
SAI president Paul Costanzo says the company is looking closely at the design of the four-seat Symphony 250. "We need to ask if the aircraft matches market expectations," he says. "We may increase the width and length of the aircraft to make it more spacious," adds Costanzo.
SAI plans to deliver five aircraft this year and increase production next year to around 50 Symphony types, says Costanzo. To strengthen its position and widen its market share in North America, SAI has established a subsidiary, American Symphony, in Moline, Illinois, which will serve as the major distributor, service centre and parts supplier for the US market.
SAI beat four other bidders to acquire OMF Aircraft's assets from the Québec government administrators. At time of the sale, orders totalled 44 aircraft, although the company expected to double that figure by the end of AirVenture.
Source: Flight International
