ZENITH IS INCREASING production of its CH2000 two-seat trainer to 100 aircraft a year and establishing a dealer network in the USA and elsewhere. The Midland, Ontario-based company is now producing two aircraft a month and has delivered 34 CH2000s since receiving certification in 1995.
Diamond Aircraft, meanwhile, hopes to certificate a Teledyne Continental-powered version of its Katana DA20 two-seat trainer in September, the same month it plans to fly the prototype DA40 four-seater. Based in London, Ontario, the company is producing 15 Katanas a month and has delivered over 300 aircraft so far. The University of North Dakota has ordered six additional DA20s, taking its fleet to 12.
Zenith is setting up six US "zone" dealers to which it will sell base aircraft, says Zenith vice-president Mathieu Heintz. The dealers will then equip the aircraft to customer specifications. Heintz says that this arrangement provides greater flexibility to tailor avionics and interiors than is allowed under Zenith's manufacturing certificate. The base aircraft is priced at under $70,000 without radios and gyros.
Zenith is focusing initial efforts on the USA, but plans to establish zone dealers in other countries. The CH2000 is expected to be certificated in Europe by November/ December. Six aircraft have been delivered and four more are on order for customers in India, which Heintz describes as "a very promising market" for the simple-to-maintain, all-metal CH2000.
At $114,000, the Continental-powered DA20-C1 will be slightly more expensive than the original Rotax-powered aircraft. The DA40 will be flown initially with Rotax power, but the definitive engine has yet to be selected, says Diamond. While the all-composite DA20 is manufactured in Canada, the DA40 will be assembled in Austria. Deliveries are to begin in 1999, and Diamond says it already has 94 orders in hand.
Starkville, Mississippi-based Global Aircraft hopes to break ground within 60-90 days on a factory to produce its three-seat, all-composite GT-3.
A prototype has been in flight test since 1995 and the first certification-test aircraft is scheduled to be flown in June 1998, leading to approval by the end of 1998. The company plans to build 100 aircraft, priced at $130,000, in the first full year of production.
Source: Flight International
