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Aviation History
2000
2000-1 - 1063.PDF
GENERAL AVIATION Beriev seeks state funding boost to certificate Be-200 PAUL DUFFY/MOSCOW BERIEV IS hoping to receive a boost in government funding for the Be-200 programme next year to allow it to certificate the twin jet amphibian in mid-2001 and start deliveries to the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations from late next year. "We require $20 million for die certification programme, and the state has allocated just 80 million roubles [about $2.9m] in the annu al budget for it, although this may be increased to 100 million roubles next year," says Beriev's deputy general director Alexander Yavkin. The Be-200 flew earlier this month at the Hydroaviasalon 2000 show, in Gelenzhik, on the Russian coast of the Azov Sea. Despite the funding issues, Yavkin says that Beriev has made "fair progress" with the pro gramme. Certification next year will be to Russia's new AP25 stan dard, equivalent to the western FAR/JAR 2 5. "We are also looking at the possibility of foreign approvals," he says. Beriev will offer the Be-2 00, which is based on the manufacturer's A-40 twin tur- NEWS IN BRIEF • NASAUAV NASA has produced a short list of research organisations hoping to perform earth sci ence research using unman ned air vehicles (UAVs). NASA will review plans'from 11 finalists and select up to three next year for full devel opment. NASA has budgeted $12 million to fund the research, which runs until the end of 2003. The UAVs will carry scientific payloads designed to understand the global environment. Missions proposed include a range of earth science studies to monitor the planet. bofan marine patrol amphibian, in 64-passenger, freighter, maritime patrol and fire fighter versions. Beriev has a $140m contract with the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations for seven aircraft in the fire fighting version, with the first to be delivered late next year and the rest over the fol lowing two years. Beta Air, the marketing partner ship formed by the design bureau and the manufacturer, forecast an international market of 300-350 for the $23.5-$25 million aircraft, depending on specifications. "Domestically we see a market for 100, which will sell at Si8 million with Russian/CIS engines and avionics," says Yavkin. "We are in negotiations with South Korea and China: bodi have aserious interest in the patrol ver sion to cover their territorial waters. The French ministry of the interior has asked us to demon strate the fire fighter version, and we have agreed to bring it to France in November, to demonstrate it for comparison with their [Canadair] CL215s," he adds. The Irkutsk factory will produce four Be-2 00s per year, with the capacity to produce up to 2 2. • The Beriev Be-200 touches down in Gelenzhik, on the Russian coast MDHI to deliver first Explorer powerplant MD HELICOPTERS (MDHI) is set to deliver the first Pratt & Whitney Canada 207E-powered Explorer to its-UK distributor Police Aviation Services this week, two months after the engine received certifica tion in the USA. The new powerplant will enhance the Explorer's perfor mance at high altitudes, on hot days and with one engine inoperative. "Explorers equipped with 207E engines will gain more than 2,000 ft (610m) in hover capability [on a hot day]. Operators will also bene fit from an 11 % increase in horse power on take-off," says MDHI. Meanwhile, the Mesa, Arizona- based manufacturer has awarded Unison Industries a multi-year, $4 million contract to provide wiring harnesses and electrical panels for the Explorer. The deal expands Unison's harness business beyond engines and involves production in Fort Worth, Texas, and Saltillo, Mexico. Unison's contract could be expanded to include tiie MD 500 andMD600N. • Citation VII assembly comes to an end KATE SARSFIELD/WICHITA THE FINAL Cessna Citation VII mid -size business jet was set to roll off the assembly line in Wichita, Kansas, on 15 September, marking an end to Citation 650 series production, started in 1983 with the launch of the Citation III. The VII's future was placed in doubt two years ago with the launch of the $12 million Sove reign, Cessna's newest addition to the popular mid-size market. SerialNol 19 will be delivered to US food processing company United Foods, which also took delivery of the first Citation III. The Citation VII entered ser vice in 1992. Notable owners include Executive Jet Aviation, which in 1996 ordered 20 aircraft for its Netjets fractional ownership programme, and veteran golfer Arnold Palmer, who has since acquired the larger Citation X. The Sovereign is slated for certi fication and first delivery in the third quarter of 2003 and die first quarter of 2004, respectively, a year later than originally touted. Sovereign programme director Brad Thress says: "We have been concentrating on existing pro grammes [CJ1, CJ2 and the Encore], but work is underway witii die Sovereign and we are in the throes of releasing detailed design drawings." Cessna has begun building the aircraft's primary structures, including the wing and fuselage, and plans to begin the mating process for the cyclic fatigue article in mid October. The company appointed Fokker Aerostructures of tlie Netherlands to build the Sovereign's empennage, although Cessna is likely to build die first three test articles. The testing process will consist of one prototype and two pre-pro duction aircraft, two compete test airframes for cyclic fatigue and sta tic strength, as well as 23 ground test and 11 structural articles. Thress adds: "We want to iron out any problems on the ground and make the aircraft as mature as it can be for first flight." European certi fication is scheduled within 12 months of US approval. • FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 19 - 25 September 2000 35
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