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Aviation History
2000
2000-1 - 1138.PDF
GENERAL AVIATION First BBJ 2 is set for completion GUY NORRIS/LOS ANGELES THE FIRST Boeing Business Jet 2 (BBJ 2) is set to be deliv ered "green" from its Renton final assembly line in Washington to DeCrane's modification site in Georgetown, Delaware, around February, according to Boeing. The announcement comes as interest appears to be growing in the 737-800 corporate derivative. The BBJ 2, which is 5.9m (19.3ft) longer than the 737-700 based BBJ, will also require "minor strengthening" of the fuselage to take the auxiliary fuel tanks which are fitted at the DeCrane (former ly PATS) site. "There are a couple TAI puts ZIU aircraft decision on hold TUSAS AEROSPACE Indust ries (TAI) has clocked up the sixth flight of its ZIU agricultural aircraft since air trials started on 26 June. It says a decision on going ahead with the programme depends on market research. The ZIU is the first indigenous Turkish aircraft designed internal ly by TAI and was initially aimed partly at a Turkish requirement for agricultural aircraft to operate in its South East Anatolian Project. Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria and Pakistan are "monitoring" the pro gramme as potential customers. Although suffering initial delays caused by supplier problems, TAI says test flights are "on schedule." A decision on a second prototype will be taken "after market research activities are finalised". Powered by a 450 kW (600hp) Orenda OE600 8-cylinder tur- bocharged piston engine, the ZIU is funded by TAI, theTurkish min istry of industry and technology and the scientific and technical research council. Maximum take off weight is 3,500kg (7,7001b). The fuselage and wings are of metal construction, while the 1,500 litre hopper, wing tips ami removeable side panels are from TAI-made composite materials. Q of doublers they have to install" says BBJ vice president sales, Lee Monson, who adds diat die BBJ 2 is designed to take up to seven tanks compared to as many as nine in the basic BBJ. Maximum take-off weight of die stretched aircraft will be 79,240kg (174,5001b), including a total allowance of 7,030kg for the interior - around 1,375kg higher than the BBJ. Boeing Business Jets, which is expected to reveal new BBJ orders and a breakdown of BBJ 2 sales at the NBA^show in New Orleans in October, says it has "...sold out its BBJ 2 production for 2001." The aircraft is attracting "significant SIKORSKY HAS completed testingof the S-92 twin-turbine medium helicopter in a climatic chamber at Elgin AFB, Florida. The indoor tests were a precursor to cold-weather flight tests sched uled for the winter of 2001-2 in Alaska and Canada. The third prototype S-92 was suspended in the massive main chamber of the US Air Force's McKinley Climatic Laboratory at Elgin for the three-week test series, which included 20 hours of rotor- turning engine runs to exercise the majority of systems in extreme hot and cold temperatures.The tests covered a temperature range from interest" from a variety of cus tomers, including operators of corporate 727-200s. "We original ly thought the BBJ 2 would be about 25% of our business jet pro duction, but now it appears it could total 30%-35%," says Monson. With 93.3m: (1,004ft-') of floor area, the BBJ 2 has 2 5% more cabin space than the BBJ, and around 100% more baggage space. "We have seen some interest in the aircraft for corporate shuttle- type operations, in which it would be fitted with high density seating as well as a state room. We also have some operators who will order both. YVhen we announced the programme (in October 1999), we -40C to +50C. Before each run, the helicopter was soaked at the required temperature for at least 12 hours to simulate an overnight stop. The General Electric CT7-8 engines started first time in all con ditions. The S-92 also completed a fuel icing test for US certification. The first customer for the com mercial version of the helicopter is Canadian offshore firm Cougar Helicopters, which has placed deposits for up to five, widi delivery from 2002. Vancouver-based Helijet, Copter Action of Finland and Norway's Aircontactgruppen have also signed agreements which could lead to orders. • had one customer who traded up from a BBJ already on order, to a BBJ 2," Monson says. Boeing Business Jet is also revealing plans to establish a net work of service centres to support the BBJ fleet, which numbers 16. "We are looking at full-up ser vice centres and affiliating with people who are capable of main taining these aircraft," says Monson. "They will be maintaining the in-flight entertainment systems, seats and interior systems rather than the aircraft itself, so we are looking particularly into affilia tions with companies having that sort of expertise," he adds. • Groen rolls out Hawk turbine version first GROEN Brothers Aviation (GBA) is to certificate the tur bine-powered version of its four- seat gyroplane ahead of the originally planned piston-engined aircraft. It cited greater demand for the Hawk 4T variant powered by a Rolls-Royce 250 turboshaft. The US Federal Aviation Adm inistration has required GBA to submit a new certification applica tion, but will allow work already done on the piston version to be "rolled into" the turbine pro gramme, says the Salt Lake City, Utah-based company. The piston-powered prototype is being re-engined and will join the Hawk 4T test aircraft, which first flew in July. Two conforming prototypes are being built and certification flight testing is planned to begin early next year. GBA believes it can develop the Hawk 4T on the schedule drawn up for the piston version, with cer tification expected late next year or early 2002. The company says most of the dealers and customers who placed deposits on almost 150 gyroplanes have switched their orders to the turbine version, despite the increase in price - a Hawk 4T costs $749,000 compared with S295.000 for the piston version. • S-92 climate tests completed The Sikorsky S-92 - tested indoors for temperature extremes 32 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 26 September - 2 October 2000
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