Italian Aircraft manufacturer Air Samanta is to start a new general aviation production line following its acquisition of Aerocosmos, which holds the type certificate for the twin-engined Partenavia P.68/P.68TC.
The acquisition, priced at L1.4 billion ($780,000), also includes the former production plant in Milan and aircraft spares. Vulcan, which is based in Casoria, Naples, already manufactures Partenavia spares and is now evaluating the market for the P.68.
An agreement has been reached with India's Taneja Aerospace, which manufactures the P.68 in Bangalore, limiting its sales and spares supply to the Indian market.
A year ago Vulcan also acquired the Siai Marchetti SF-600 Canguro programme from Finmeccanica.
The first twin-engined, utility SF-600 has been certificated and four aircraft are almost complete. Vulcan claims to have parts for about 12 more aircraft and plans to produce around four new SF-600s a year if demand exists. A stretched version is being considered to rival the Pilatus Britten-Norman Islander.
Source: Flight International
