VisionAire has set a January 2001 deadline for a decision on whether to go ahead with its two-seat VA-12 Spirit jet. If a positive decision is made, deliveries would be scheduled for early 2004.
The Spirit was originally unveiled as a single-engined, tandem-seat model designed for personal use at last year's Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) convention. The aircraft underwent a redesign late last year and was introduced as the twin-engined VA-12C at the 1999 EAA convention, which took place in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on 28 July-3 August.
The new VA-12C uses two 700lb-thrust (3kN) Williams FJX-2 engines, providing the composite machine with a cruise speed of about 400kt (740km/h), a 25% improvement on the 320kt target for the single Williams-powered VA-12B design.
VisionAire also wants the Spirit to be fully aerobatic and is considering side-by-side seating as well as the tandem-seat cockpit originally envisioned. The panel space of a two-abreast cockpit would accommodate the full instrument flight rules avionics and displays being considered for the Spirit.
The projected price for the Spirit is $750,000, says vice-president Steve Goodhue. VisionAire has 40 orders for the aircraft.
Source: Flight International
