Aircraft

After spending more than a year considering alternatives including Albuquerque and Oklahoma City, Piper Aircraft has decided to build its new PiperJet in a new facility at its historic Vero Beach, Florida manufacturing site to be built with the help of local and state government incentives totalling $32 million.

The $32 million - $12 million from Indian River County and $20 million from the state of Florida - pays out over three years and must be spent on capital improvements in Indian River County.

Piper says it does not know yet if it will go towards a new facility or renovating existing space. "We're still in the developmental stage of the jet, so that would remain to be seen," the company says. "We have an 80 acre [32.4Ha] campus here and we have 700,000ft2 [65,000m²] under roof."

The $2.2 million PiperJet is due for delivery in 2011 with its single Williams FJ44-33AP engine. It seats six, with an option for either a lavatory or a seventh seat, and is designed to cruise at 360kt (665km/h) to a range of 2,410km (1,300nm).

Design modifications continue, and last summer the horizontal stabiliser, which was initially a straight-tail design, was altered and swept rearward 30°. Its size has also been increased from 6.5m² to 7m² to give the aircraft more elevator authority for trim and for take-off at a full-forward centre of gravity.