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Aviation History
1996
1996 - 1658.PDF
GENERAL AVIATION NEWS IN BRIEF • EGYPTIAN COMMANDER Commander Aircraft has delivered three Commander 114AT trainers to Egypt's National Civil Aviation Training Organisation (NCATO), based at Embaba Aerodrome in Giza. NCATO is the only civilian pilot-train ing organisation in Egypt, and trains all Egyptian airline pilots. Bethany, Oklahoma- based Commander received the contract, worth more than $1 million, after NCATO evaluated bids from ten manufacturers. • SPANISH WINGS (i amcsa Aeronautica of Spain has signed a contract with Sino-Swearingen Aircraft to build the wing for the SJ-30 business jet. The initial con tract is valid for ten years, and has a value ofPtas 50,000 mil lion ($400 million). The work will be undertaken at the company's Vitoria-Gasteiz plant, where Gamesa already manufactures the wing for the Embraer EMB-145 and undertakes work for Israeli Aircraft Industries on the Astra business jet. • GLOBAL EXPANSION Learjet has begun construc tion of a 9,100m2 (100,000ft2) extension to the Bombardier Flight Test Center in Wi chita, Kansas, in preparation for the start of the Global Express flight-test pro gramme. The first ultra- long-range Global Express business jet is due to arrive in Wichita for the start of tests in October. In late 1997, the site will also be used for flight testing of the Bombardier de Havilland Dash 8-400 re gional turboprop. • CL-215 LEASES Los Angeles County is to lease two Canadair CL-215T firefighting amphibious air craft from Bombardier for five years after a successful trial of the aircraft in southern California during late 1994. GuKstream receives approval from CIS GULFSTREAM HAS become the first US business-jet man ufacturer to have its aircraft certifi cated by the CIS Aviation Register of Interstate Aviation Committee, under recendy harmonised CIS/- US rules for Transport Category Aircraft (AP2 5). The CIS approval covers the Gulfstream III, IV and IV-SP models. "We see Russia and the other CIS countries as a critical emerg ing market for business avia tion. . .with vast distances between economic opportunities," says Gene Rainville, executive vice- president for international sales. US business-jet rival Cessna, meanwhile, hopes to boost sales of its Citation business jet family in the former Soviet Union by appointing aviation services com pany Loyd's Investments as its authorised sales representative in the CIS. Loyd's has offices and represen tatives in Moscow, Baku and Azerbaijan and already works for Cessna in Poland. Loyd's is also the Boeing representative in Belo- russia, Russia and Ukraine. Other involvements in the CIS include a subsidiary known as Russian Helicopter Operators which spe cialises in the marketing, moderni sation and upgrading of locally made helicopters. Loyd's president Aaron Fenkel says: "We believe diat Cessna Citations are the best in their class and ideal for the Russian business- jet market." • Sogerma to build IAI Galaxy fuselage SOGERMA-SOCEAis about to conclude an agreement with Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) to manufacture the fuselage and empennage of the Galaxy executive jet. The deal is conditional on IAI resolving other problems which have delayed the programme. IAI has been looking for a sub contractor since it broke its ties with Yakovlev in Russia. The Russian aircraft manufacturer was unable to manufacture the Galaxy's fuselage and empennage at its plant in Saratov as agreed. The fuselage and empennage will be manufac tured at Sogerma's Rochefort site. The finance committee of the Israeli Knesset has not yet approved the state guarantee that is a condi tion for the Prizcker family invest ment. Committee members are being briefed before they vote on a guarantee enabling an initial $50 million investment. • Raytheon Premier I stays on track RAMON LOPEZ/WICHITA R AYTHEONAIRCRAFThas sold almost 100 of its new Premier I light business-aircraft, even though first deliveries are not scheduled until late 1998. Considered "the defining prod uct for Raytheon for the next three decades", the Premier I pro gramme is "on schedule, at cost and meeting all performance targets", says Roy Norris, president of Raytheon Aircraft. Release of new details of xhf Premier I coincided with delivery of the 5,000th twin-turboprop Beech King Air, a iVfodel 350. The first flight of the six-passen ger Premier I, which is powered by two lOkN (2,3001b)-thrust Wil liams Rolls-Royce FJ44-2As, is scheduled for the third quarter of 1997, with first deliveries planned for the end of 1998. Production of 40 aircraft a year is planned, and Norris says: "We have not broken 100 firm orders yet, but we are getting very close." Ray theon is using an automated Cin cinnati Milicron Viper Fibre Placement System to produce the composite carbonfibre/epoxy honeycomb Premier I fuselage, offering increased internal volume and reduced weight, enabling the aircraft to be stretched. Len Roberts, head of the Premier I programme, says that tests show that the fibre-placement system "...is turning out structures that are sound and of superior qual ity. This process will revolutionise how we build aircraft at Raytheon." He estimates a one-third reduc tion in fuselage-fabrication costs. Norris says that the Premier IT and Premier III, which will be stre tched, longer-range versions of the initial light-jet entry, are in the con ceptual-design phase of research. Norris adds that the aircraft will fol low launch of "a new advanced aircraft in the super-mid-sized jet category". The next-generation Hawker is expected to be launched at the US National Business Aircraft Association show to be held in November. • FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 3 - 9 July 1996
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