UK holding company Aviation Group International (AGI) is planning to relaunch production of the Sprint aerobatic trainer, stablemate of the Optica surveillance aircraft, which is earmarked for service re-entry late next year. The type certificate and design rights for the Sprint and Optica were acquired by AGI from former owner FLS Aerospace.
Two versions of the Sprint are under evaluation, says AGI. The first type, which will be similar to the current design, will be launched six months after the Optica, leading to service entry in mid-2007. The market for the first aircraft is not expected to be huge, AGI admits, but there should be enough demand for the type as a replacement for the ageing Scottish Aviation Bulldog trainer, it says. The Sprint II will be a radical redesign, powered by a diesel-fuelled engine, likely to be the 160hp (120kW) Wilksch Airmotive WAM 160. Service entry is planned for 2008.
Both the Sprint and Optica will be sold in parallel, with parts supplied and manufactured by Aerostar Romania.
Source: Flight International
