VisionAire is to relocate flight testing of its Vantage single engined business jet to its St Louis, Missouri, headquarters in April after the completion of envelope expansion flights at Scaled Composites in Mojave, California.
Almost 200h have been accumulated on the proof-of-concept (PoC) aircraft since its first flight in November 1996.
The first of two certification flight test Vantages is scheduled to fly in December, and will incorporate design changes, says VisionAire. The fuselage has been stretched by 100mm ahead of the forward-swept wing to accommodate aircraft systems. The horizontal tail area, meanwhile, has been expanded by 27%, and the wing dihedral angle increased by 2°.
The rudder size has also been reduced, as has the angle of the tailpipe for the 13.2kN (2,965lb) thrust Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-5 turbofan. The new nose and main landing gear has been designed by Ozone Industries. Independently actuated main gear doors now operate as speedbrakes.
PoC flight testing has confirmed the Vantage's 70kt (130km/h) stall speed - and 350kt high-speed cruise - and ability to operate from a 760m (2,500ft) runway, VisionAire says. Range estimates have been increased as a result of PoC testing: to 2,900km (1,550nm) with pilot and full fuel, and 1,850km with pilot and five passengers.
The PoC aircraft was built by Scaled Composites. Subsidiary Scaled Technology Works will supply the wing and empennage for certification and production aircraft: AAR will supply the fuselage.
VisionAire expects to move into its Ames, Iowa, production plant in April. The company plans to assemble the certification test aircraft there, although they will be trucked to St Louis for final assembly and flight testing, says the manufacturer.
US certification and first deliveries are scheduled for the fourth quarter of 1999. VisionAire reports orders for more than 100 Vantages at the introductory price of $1.75 million, which will soon rise.
Source: Flight International
