Business & GA

The Farnborough Aircraft (FACL) F1 Kestrel single-engine turboprop completed its ferry flight from Bend, Oregon in the USA to Redhill, Surrey in the UK late last month. The nine-sector journey via Goose Bay, Kuujjuaq, Sondrestrom and Reykjavik took just over 30h achieving an average ground speed of 280kt (520km/h). FACL is developing the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A-powered Kestrel, which made its first flight in July, with the Gulf Aircraft Partnership.

The prototype will undergo some engineering work, says the company, and will have an executive interior fitted before departing for Abu Dhabi for demonstrations to the Middle East partners. The next hurdle is to finalise financing arrangements with capital of around $100 million needed to complete certification.