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Aviation History
1985
1985 - 3322.PDF
BUSINESS AVIATION Avtek wins support ALBUQUERQUE New Mexico is the new home for the Avtek 400, following the American state's decision to invest $20 million in the composite twin-pusher busi ness aircraft—a rival to Beech's Starship I. The deal clears the way for further development work aimed at certification within two years and construction of a factory that will create 750 jobs in Albuquerque and Clovis, according to Avtek. The Avtek 400 is the first aircraft to use Du Pont Kevlar in its primary structure, and could lead to the establish ment of a "Kevlar valley" in New Mexico, says the company, which intends to retain research and devel opment at its Camarillo facil ity in California. It is in Camarillo that Avtek is to test and certificate the 400, following earlier work there on the proof-of-concept Avtek aircraft, which has already flown. Avtek hopes the new factory will be turning out 100 aircraft per year from 1987, and claims that the deal is the first successful use of money from a $90 million venture capital fund set up by New Mexico in 1984. The move follows a threat by Avtek president Bob Adickes to move the project abroad. Earlier this year he claimed to have received an offer of financial backing for manufacture of the aircraft in Europe, and said he would take it up if no US offer emerged by the end of 1985. Other options included splitting manufacture and assembly between sites. Adickes had made a number of advances for backing in the USA, including an approach to Louisiana state officials at the National Business Aircraft Association conven tion in New Orleans in September. At that time Adickes claimed orders worth more than $200 million. Manufacture of the aircraft in Europe still remains a possibility, if it were carried out under licence, Flight understands. Finnish com pany Valmet is developing undercarriage parts for the . --S*-T - «SSJK * !#*»a*«gSl^^ New Mexico's decision to pump $20 million into the Avtek 400 provides sufficient funds for certification and jobs aircraft, but has stated no intention to make the aircraft. The latest design of the aircraft involves a larger cabin, greater span, swept wing, and strakes between the engine nacelles and forward fuselage to carry fuel. Mexico in helicopter move MERIDA ~ Mexico is set to establish a helicopter overhaul facility in Merida, capital city of Yuca tan. According to Israeli sources, the new facility, which is the first of its kind in Mexico, will be owned by the Mexican Government, who will have 35 per cent of the shares; a further 35 per cent will be in the hands of local investors, and 30 per cent will be owned by a group headed by Marcus Katz, an Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) agent in the region. The assistant director of the new facility will be a heli copter expert from IAI, but has yet to be named. A subsidiary of IAI in Mata, Jerusalem, will overhaul rotorblades and other parts for the new company until facilities in Mexico are completed. Helisur, as the new company is called, will employ 100 workers initially and plans to add 400 once it has gained a foothold. Some 500 military and civilian helicopters are oper ated in Mexico. IAI does not intend to invest money in Helisur, but will assist it with technical backup. IAI has FAA authorisation to overhaul helicopters. Helisur is hoping to get additional work from neighbouring countries such as Honduras, Salvador, Panama, and Costa Rica. High Manning at Piper Frank Manning has been appointed president of Piper Aircraft, announces parent-company Lear Siegler vice-president Robert Wyma, to whom Manning will report. Manning has been with Lear Siegler for 15 years and has been president of the company's Mammoth Division since 1978. Unmanned crop-sprayer flies TNUVOT An Israeli firm believes it can halve the cost of aerial crop- spraying by removing the pilot and controlling a small aircraft by radio from the ground. Omni Horizon intends to develop an unmanned crop-sprayer which would be able to carry 6501b of chemical. It would be remotely controlled on take off and landing, but capable of automatic flight during repet itive runs up and down fields of crops. A smaller prototype has already flown. The prototype is based on a US microlight powered by a 50 h.p. Rotax engine, but is fitted with avionics and an on board computer which enable it to fly autonomously. Safety features enable the aircraft to return to the landing area or to parachute to the ground, should malfunctions occur. Its flight path is prepro gramed, but if the spraying is upset by wind drift, the program can be overridden. A television camera on board the microlight gives the oper ator a view of the area below the flight path. Flight under stands that commercial crop- spraying with the aircraft could begin in 1987. 14 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 21/28 December 1985
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