Sierra Industries is preparing to modify its first aircraft since buying back the FJ44 Eagle II re-engining programme for the Cessna Citation 501 from Landmark Aviation. The company has also restarted work to certificate the Williams FJ44 engine installation for the Citation 500.
Uvalde, Texas-based Sierra has bought back all of the Citation-related supplement type certificates it sold to the former Garrett Aviation in 2003. The buyback follows Garrett’s acquisition by the Carlyle Group in 2004, and its recent rebranding as Landmark.
Sierra is now working to reduce the price of the FJ44 Eagle II, which had increased under Garrett’s ownership of the programme, says Tom Canavera, vice-president of sales and marketing. The company has already sold its first conversion, and will induct the aircraft later this month.
Canavera says Sierra is now looking for a partner with multiple US locations where the FJ44 Eagle II conversion can be performed. The re-engining increases cruise speed by 50kt (90km/h), reduces fuel consumption by 40% and provides a 3,300km (1,800nm) range, the company says.
Spirit Wing Aviation, meanwhile, says supplemental type certification of its re-engined, FJ44-powered Learjet 25, the SpiritLear, has been delayed by additional US Federal Aviation Administration requirements to fully update the electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic systems. Certification was planned for the first quarter.
Guthrie, Oklahoma-based Spirit Wing began testing the updated systems this year, and says development and company flight testing is almost complete. The SpiritLear has a 480kt cruise speed and 3,300km range.
Source: Flight International
