VisionAire has formed a strategic partnership with Scaled Technology Works (STW) to design, develop and certificate the major composite airframe parts - including the wing, airframe and fuselage - for its Vantage single turbofan.
The move is a continuation of an agreement between the two companies under which STW will build the production conforming prototypes, ground test articles and two production aircraft. STW will also modify the non-conforming proof-of-concept Vantage.
VisionAire president and chief executive Jim Rice says: "The selection of a single supplier is less complicated and enables us to manage the product easier. We can now move towards the rapid production of a conformal prototype."
Ames, Iowa-based VisionAire continues to refine the Vantage design following major changes that were made last year to address the handling and weight concerns that arose during flight testing.
Changes included moving the engine aft and up to reduce inlet duct curvature, avoiding ice build-up, and to increase aft cabin baggage space; switching to a monocoque fuselage structure to reduce weight; lowering the wing to improve ground handling and reducing forward sweep to improve control and stall behaviour; using a thinner aerofoil to reduce drag and enlarging the vertical tail and moving the horizontal tail aft to improve handling. At the same time, the price rose from $1.8 million to $2.18 million.
Two-dimensional windtunnel tests of a new Fowler flap system have been completed and the flight control arrangements in the cockpit have been revised.
The first of two conforming prototypes is set to begin flight testing in February 2002. The certification process is due to take 18 to 24 months, with US approval and first deliveries slated for 2003 - around five years after the non-conforming prototype first flew.
The company is now seeking to secure $100 million to fund the Vantage through to certification and first deliveries. The Vantage order book currently totals 110 aircraft, down 30 on last year.
Source: Flight International
