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Aviation History
2001
2001 - 1872.PDF
GENERAL AVIATION Envoy 7 will get a hybrid winglet PAUL LEWIS/ OBERPFAFFENHOFEN FAIRCHILD DORMER has chosen a novel hybrid winglet/ rake configuration for its planned Envoy 7 executive aircraft version of the 728JET. The winglet is also being considered for a proposed new extended range (ER) develop ment of the manufacturer's 70-seat regional jet and the already launch ed stretch 92 8JET derivative. Ie winglets tested Aviation Partners winglet ? Fairchild Dorner wingiets Selected Fairchild Dorner winglet Source: Fairchild Dornier The manufacturer has been conducting wind tunnel testing on five winglet designs, including four from Fairchild Dornier and one from Aviation Partners of Seattle. The recently selected internal configuration is shaped like a shark's fin and combines the characteristics of an upward blended winglet with the aft sweep ofarakedwingtip. The new winglet is intended to reduce cruise drag by at least 3.6% in order to extend the aircraft's performance and, at the same time, improve vortex manage ment. "Aero-dynamically we think this wingtip treatment is the best solution. It weighs less and induces much smaller bending moments in the wing because it is not as big as competing designs, but gets us the same drag reduc tion," says Duncan Koerbel, Fairchild Dornier vice president 728/928/Envoy7. Fairchild Dornier plans to initially fit the winglet to die Envoy 7, which is due to fly at the end of next year with deliveries to follow in mid 2004. Designers have been looking to enhance the aircraft's perfor mance at altitude through better wing efficiency in order to raise the internal weight allowance for the executive interior from 6,0001b to 8,5001b (2720kg to 3860kg) without eroding the air craft's targeted 4,000nm (7400km) range. The company is also looking at using the winglet on the 90-110- seat 928JET (Flight International, 8-14 May, P19), as well as a proposed ER version of the base line 70-seater which would be available from early 2005. The aircraft would represent a further growth on the 728JET's optional maximum take-off weight of 35,990kg (81,5481b). It draws on changes incorporated into the Envoy 7, which will have a MTOW of 39,500kg, but reduced number of cycles. Raising the aircraft's MTOW is one option for recovering an over run in the aircraft's empty weight and meeting payload range performance. The 728JET is currently around 500kg over the empty weight agreed with launch customer Lufthansa. The 728JET'sbaselineMTOWissetat 35,200kg. • Envoy 7 wing wi 4 ****" Source: Faitchitd Dornier Raytheon eyes line as slump hits RAYTHEON IS expected to cut production of some of its business aircraft after experiencing a drop-off in sales caused by the fal tering US economy. "We are evaluating an adjust ment to the line rate," says chair man Dan Burnham. "Of particular concern are orders for the Beechjet and King Air lines, which we are monitoring carefully." Raytheon Aircraft's backlog has fallen since the beginning of the year, but remains strong, Burnham says, mainly as a result of advance orders for die Premier I entry-level jet and super mid-size Hawker Horizon. The company will finally deliver die first Premier this mondi, and expects to ship around 30 by year- end. Deliveries of the Horizon will not begin until 2 003. • Philippines Bell 407s grounded after crash THE PHILIPPINE authori ties have grounded Bell 407 helicopters operating in the country after an aircraft flown by private charter company Jaka crashed on 18 May on the western island of Palawan, killing all six people on board. An air force helicopter sent to collect the bodies also crashed, after apparently hitting high ground while flying in poor visibil ity, according to sources involved in the investigation. All seven crew members were killed. The helicopter involved is thought to have been a Sikorsky S-76. Air Transportation Office chief Adelberto Yap has reportedly written to Bell to inform the manufacturer of the grounding and detail die concerns of pilots flying the type. Several Bell 407s have crashed after their tail rotors cut through the tailboom. This has caused US airworthiness autiiorities to impose a speed restriction on the light helicopter. A source who has seen the Palawan crash wreckage, however, says the helicopter's tailboom was "intact". An investigation into die cause of die accident is under way. Eyewitnesses reported seeing the aircraft "pass, and then come back looking for a clear area to land", says the source. The grounding order will remain in force "until the results of the investigation come out", die source adds. • UAL fractional closes on aircraft orders UNITED AIRLINES' (UAL) , new business jet fractional \ ownership subsidiary is expected to s announce orders for up to six air craft types from at least two suppli ers at next month's Paris air show. The development comes as Stuart Oran, currently United's senior vice-president international, is named president of the venture. The unnamed subsidiary has a memorandum of understanding with Dassault Aviation for the sup ply of up to 40 business jets plus a similar number of options from its range, which includes the mid sized Falcon 50EX, the large-cabin Falcon 900 and the transcontinen tal Falcon 2000. In addition, United is thought to be talking to Gulfstream about its types. The subsidiary is expected to operate 200 business jets by 2005 following launch next year. • 28 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 29 May - 4 June 2001
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