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Aviation History
1993
1993 - 1161.PDF
GENERAL AVIATION Improved Challenger revealed Canadair has unveiled an improved version of the Challenger widebody business jet. The intercontinental-range 601-3R will replace the current production 601-3A, with deliv eries beginning in July. The 601-3R has the tail tank which was previously available as an option on the -3A. The tank will be incorporated dur- Pilatus prepares new Piper plan Pilatus Aircraft is revising its letter of intent (Lol) to purchase Piper Aircraft's as sets for $36 million, after the unsecured creditors' commit tee rejected the agreement made originally. Piper was hoping to be back in bankruptcy court on 17 May with an Lol accepta ble to its creditors. The court refused to ap prove the original document at a hearing on 7 May, after Pilatus failed to agree with Piper's creditors. Piper was given another 90 days to come up with a re-organisa tion plan, but the Pilatus deal includes a bonus payment to creditors if agreement is reached sooner. The committee objected to "certain provisions" of the Lol, including Piper's agree ment to pay Pilatus a penalty fee if the deal failed. The committee did not ob ject to Pilatus' proposals to protect the new company from product liability for all Piper aircraft built up to the time the purchase agreement is signed. Even if the Lol is approved, Pilatus will still have to bid at auction for Piper's assets and the court will have to consider higher bids. The other bidders — nine in all — are objecting to a provision in the current Lol that bids be submitted in increments of $500,000. They will therefore have to outbid Pilatus by at least $500,000 for every asset auctioned. D ing production and will boost the Challenger's standard range, from 6,225km to 6,660km (3,365- 3,600nm), with five passengers. The 601-3R will cost the same as an extended- range -3A, Ca nadair says. The new air craft is powered by the General Electric CF34-3A1 engines, the type which also powers the Canadair Regional Jet. The -3A1 was developed from GE's CF34-3A turbofan, which powers the 601-3A and incorporates improvements made to increase durability and enhance maintainability, the company says. Deliveries of the improved Challenger begin in July Improved materials are used in the fan, compressor, com- bustor and turbine. Longer-life "serpentine-cooled" high-pres sure turbine blades, improved seals and coatings and control- system enhancements are intro duced. The engine and nacelle have been redesigned for easier inspection, maintenance and module replacement. D Computervision wins Learjet 45 deal US manufacturer Learjet has selected Computervision's CADDS 5 computer-aided engi neering software for the design and manufacture of its Learjet 45 business-jet aircraft. Learjet has installed software worth $1.4 million for use in the design of the tailcone and empennage, while its Bombar dier sister company, Short Brothers, has placed a $3.4 million order for CADDS 5 software to support develop ment of the fuselage. Learjet has bought Com putervision's engineering data base-management software to manage project data and as sembly-mock-up software for the design of master-assembly models. These will allow con current engineering of the Learjet 45 — design, produc tion and support engineers working together — within Learjet and between Learjet and Shorts. CADDS 5 is designed to run on Digital Equipment, Hewlett- Packard and Sun Microsystems workstations and is a competi tor to the Dassault/IBM CATIA computer-aided engineering system used by Bombardier company Canadair. • CADDS 5 software will be used in Learjet 45 design and manufacture 22 NEWS IN BRIEF CHILEAN KITPLANE Chilean manufacturer ENAER has unveiled plans to sell its slow-selling Namcu trainer as a kitplane. Fitted with an 85kW (115hp) Textron Ly coming 0-235 engine, the all- composite two-seater was first flown in 1989. CL-215T APPROVAL Canadair's CL-215T turbo- prop-re-engined amphibian has received US Federal Avi ation Administration re stricted-category certification for aerial firefighting. This paves the way for certi fication of the new-produc tion CL-415 amphibian in early 1994, the Canadian company says. SERVICE GUARANTEE Dassault Aviation says that the Falcon 2000 business jet's engines and auxiliary power unit, as well as standard avi onics, will be guaranteed for five years. The airframe car ries a ten-year warranty, with five-year coverage on factory- installed equipment. SEASONAL SUCCESS The Soloy/Tridair Gemini ST, a re-engined Bell 206 Long- Ranger, has become the first light twin-engined helicopter to be cleared for operation, with its standard inlet, in falling and blowing snow. The approval is one of the final steps towards full US Federal Aviation Administra tion certification. GULFSTREAM PLAN Gulfstream Aerospace has in troduced a scheme aimed at providing first-time Gulf- stream owners with help, ranging from turnkey finance and management options, to field service. The Gulfstream Alliance programme sees the business-jet builder link with aviation specialists in cluding Aviation Methods, Avjet, Jet Aviation, Bank America Leasing and Pitney Bowes Credit, as offering a service described as giving "Gulfstream ownership with charter convenience". FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 19 - 25 May, 1993
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