The first production prototype of the ST-50 executive aircraft is scheduled to undergo flight tests in February 1997. Israviation, the ST-50 manufacturer, has moved to its permanent production site in Kiryat Shmona in northern Israel and is already working on the two planned production prototypes.
Test flights so far have been made with a proof of concept (PoC) prototype which has accumulated 50 flight hours. According to Israviation president Stephane Juffa, one prototype will be flown in Israel and the other abroad as part of the certification process.
So far, Israviation has operated from a temporary site. The new 8,000m3 production plant was built in Kiryat Shmona in northern Israel near the Lebanese border. It employs 70 people and, according to Juffa, will be capable of manufacturing 30 aircraft a year.
The five-seat, single-turboprop-pusher ST-50 will cost $1.2 million and, according to Juffa, the company already has orders for the first two years of production. The aircraft design was acquired from Cirrus Design of the USA in 1992.
The two prototypes are largely the same as the PoC aircraft, although, following windtunnel tests, some changes have been made, mainly in the horizontal tail and elevator. A strake has been added to the front of the wing to enhance climb performance and a vertical fin has been incorporated between the fuselage and vertical tail. Israviation is also working on increasing the maximum take-off weight of the ST-50 from 2,270kg to 2,380kg. Certification is due to be completed in 1997.
Source: Flight International
