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Aviation History
2002
2002 - 3096.PDF
BUSINESS & GENERAL AVIATION PROJECT ANDREW DOYLE / SINGAPORE Honda mulls light aircraft venture Meanwhile, rival car manufacturer Toyota studies potential replacement market for older general aviation aircraft in USA Honda Motor aims to fly a proto type turbofan-powered light aircraft by mid-2003, but is yet to formally commit to entering the aviation market. The Japanese manufacturer is releasing few details of the project other than confirming it will pro duce the engine and airframe and that the aircraft will seat fewer than 10 people. "We don't have any concrete plans to bring it to the market," says Honda. "We are continuing our research. It's still at an early stage and it's really unclear whether this will represent a viable business in the future," it adds. The project is being worked on in the USA by Honda's research and development division. Honda has been studying a fam ily of small turbofans for several years and benchtested a 1,8001b- thrust (8kN), 220kg (1001b) engine known as the HFX-20 in 1996. It developed the powerplant over a 10-year period before the test phase in conjunction with Mississippi State University. The partners built and flew a small experimental research aircraft called the MH-02, which was a high-wing monoplane with forward-swept wings. The HFX-20 is equivalent in size to the Williams-Rolls FJ44 turbofan used to power Cessna's Citation CJ1, CJ2 and CJ3 jets. Rival Japanese car manufacturer Toyota began flight testing in May a proof-of-concept light aircraft built by Scaled Composites (Flight International, 25 June-1 July). Dubbed the Toyota Advanced Aircraft (TAA), the four-seat piston single is a conventional design, with low wing and tail. Toyota is studying the potential market to replace around 200,000 older general aviation aircraft now flying in the USA but, like Honda, cautions it might not proceed with the project. IN BRIEF NO APPEAL Europe's largest independent flying college says that airline sponsorship of pilot training and extensive interest by the young in piloting as a career are dying out. "This is the first time we have had to go out and stimulate interest in taking up piloting as a career," says Anthony Petteford, managing director of UK-based Oxford Aviation Training. Oxford quotes several factors that are reducing the attractiveness of piloting as a career. These include: closed cockpit doors making the career less visible; increased automation changing the nature of the job; and insta bility of the career and lifestyle. MORAVAN LIMIT Moravan Aeroplanes has altered the load specifications for the Zlin Z 242L aerobatic trainer after the US Federal Aviation Administration reviewed the air craft's airframe life. The Czech manufacturer has issued an air worthiness directive mandating the installation of an accelera tion monitoring unit, to measure operational g-induced loads on the aircraft, which in turn will allow the airframe life to be extended from 4,500h to 5,500h. The FAA imposed the limit as the aircraft has been used for aero batic displays, during which loads exceeded original Czech certification loads spectrum. AIRCRAFT DEVELOPMENT F406 could revive Reims' fortunes after loss of Fairchild Dornier work Reims Aviation is aiming to fly a cer tificated version of its new F406 Mk2 at next year's Paris air show fol lowing receipt of preliminary design approval for the twin-engined turboprop. The French manufac turer is expected to start assembly in the new year, with certification to follow in the first quarter. Gildas Illien, vice-president for sales and marketing, says the Mk2, which is powered by two 473kW (635hp) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-135 engines driving a four- bladed propeller - an increase of lOOkW on the original F406's PT6A-112 - is on schedule again after suffering delays. The aircraft, which is developed from the Cessna 406 Caravan II, is 200kg heavier at take-off at 4,700kg (10,3501b) and also features updated avionics. The aircraft is based on the US company's 400 Series twins and uses wings sup plied by Cessna. Reims says that it is promoting the commuter version of the aircraft, as interest in entry-level business aviation is growing in France. Illien says the company is "looking for maximum opportuni ties in the light aircraft market". He predicts the company will be working at close to full capacity of around 12 aircraft a year for 2003 and 2004, with "several more" orders predicted from coastguards for the F406S Vigilant maritime surveillance variant. Reims is expected to announce government orders before year-end. The company says it has been badly hit by the loss of Fairchild Dornier subcontracts, but is work ing on details of its Airbus A380 work as well as aerostructures work for EADS and ATR. LAWSUIT Gulfstream fights United move to get cash back Gulfstream Aerospace has filed a motion with a Chicago court to dis miss a United Airlines lawsuit on the grounds it has no legal merits. Earlier this year, United, on behalf of its now-defunct Avolar fractional- ownership subsidiary, filed a lawsuit to regain over $50 million in deposits paid to Gulfstream for a firm order for 36 GIV-SPs and GVs and options for 63 more (Flight International, 4-10 June). United shut down Avolar in March, before any jets had been delivered. Gulfstream declines to comment, but president Bill Boisture previously said it has no plans to return the money. Avolar was closed by parent United before receiving any Gulfstreams 24 22-28 OCTOBER 2002 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
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