FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1995
1995 - 1110.PDF
rnwww www Murphy cuts the cost of Rebel derivative MURPHY AIRCRAFT Manufacturing launched the SR 2500 Super Rebel kitplane at the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Sun'n Fun Fly-in at Lakelands, Florida, on 9-15 April, and attracted initial interest with an introductory offer which effectively reduces the cost of the all-metal four seater by S500 to $16,000. A full airframe will be exhibit ed at die EAA's Oshkosh conven tion in July, by which time the Canadian company plans to have between 20 and 50 orders. The first flight is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 1995 and deliv eries should begin by mid-1996. Marketing manager Dave Walker says that the SR 2500 started out as simply a stretched Rebel — Murphy's two-seat kit- plane, which has clocked up more than 500 sales — but has evolved into an entirely different aircraft. The Super Rebel's wing span is 1.8m (6ft) longer, at 11m, and a redesigned fuselage allows me eas ier installation of bulkheads. Gross weight is 1,135kg and engine sizes range from HOkW (150hp) to 190kW. The Super Rebel will have a convertible tail- wheel or tricycle landing gear. • Murphy has a contract to supply 16 Rebel kits to the Algerian Government for border patrol. In a deal arranged through France, the kits are being supplied to a French manufacturer for assembly before being shipped to Algeria. J Zenith trainer into production ZENITH AIRCRAFT brought its first production CH 2000 trainer to Sun'n Fun, aiming to provide a revitalised US light-air craft market with an "affordable" all-purpose two-seater. The US firm has commitments for 24 of me all-metal aircraft, with a wide range of improvements and a price tag of $69,900. Zenith's Canadian partner, Zenair, will start production at its factory in Midland, Ontario, at a rate of one a week, increasing to two a week in 1996. By 1997, manufacturing should begin at Zenith's site in Mexico, Missouri. The CH 2000 is aimed primar ily at flying-schools. "Not a revo lutionary design, the 2000 is an affordable, all-purpose, two- seater that will start to rejuvenate our ageing fleet of light aircraft," says chief designer Chris Heintz. Zenith claims that the CH 2000 is the first North American aircraft to be certificated under European very-light-aircraft standards as part of the US Federal Aviation Administration's Small Aircraft Certification Compliance programme. Most of the certification work was com pleted with Transport Canada, leading to US approval under a bilateral agreement. J ZENITH AIRCRAFT Zenith is attempting to rejuvenate the US fleet with the 2000 GlaStar has first flight STODDARD-HAMILTON'S GlaStar had its flying debut at Sun'n Fun, as the company announced that production is under way to meet outstanding orders for 200 of the $19,950 kitplanes. Full kit shipments will not begin until December, but a "fast-track" option, which allows customers to receive the kit in three parts, is already starting with the tail group. The wing group and the fuselage group will follow at three- month intervals. The two-seat GlaStar has a composite fuse lage, aluminium foldable wing and convertible tailwheel or tricycle landing gear. Cirrus confident in SR-20 CIRRUS DESIGN SAYS that it is "very comfortable" with the performance of its new SR-20 light aircraft, following an initial flight just one week before its public debut at Sun'n Fun. President and designer Alan Klapmeier says that $2,500 deposits are being taken on the $130,000, all-composite, four seater. "The first flight is really just a general look at handling and stability, but we are very comfortable with the aircraft's performance. The 160kt [300km/h] cruise speed looks good," he says. Meanwhile, flight-testing of the Cirrus-designed ST-50 busi ness turboprop has been complet ed in the USA and the prototype is expected to be shipped to Israel in mid-April to complete flight testing. The ST-50 will be certifi cated, produced and marketed by Israviation of Israel. • Flight instructors link with EAA ANEW PARTNERSHIP is to be forged between the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and the US National Assoc iation of Flight Instructors (NAFI). NAFI, which represents nearly 3,000 flight instructors, has reached agreement in principle to affiliate with the EAA. Following a ratification vote by members, expected by 20 April, NAFI will move its headquarters from Dublin, Ohio, to the EAA's base at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. "Right now, with tort reform and the word that Cessna is get ting back into the small-aircraft business, there is an excitement in the aviation industry," says NAFI president Jack Eggspuehler. "This is the perfect time to look at how we will prepare future pilots," he adds. NAFI board director Macy Teetor says that the organisation would be working with the EAAs flight-advisory programme to reduce the number of accidents experienced with homebuilts in the first few hours of flight. J FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 19 - 25 April 1995 23
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
