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Aviation History
2004
2004-09 - 1391.PDF
Very light jets At maximum suite is Avidyne's FlightMax Entegra. payload, Nearly 50% of the aircraft's projected Aerostar's market will be military customers, especially FJ90 will those in need of an advanced jet trainer, offer says Bye, claiming: "We expect to announce operators a orders from military customers this year." 1,300km Funding permitting, the $2.5 million air- range craft is set to fly for the first time this year, with certification expected in early 2007. Diamond light Not everyone believes that the owner- operator is looking for an exotic, high-per formance aircraft, even in a jet. In January 2003, Austria's Diamond Aircraft announced that it would pursue the light- jet market with its five-seat, single- engined, single-pilot D-Jet. According to Peter Maurer, president of Diamond Aircraft Canada, the D-Jet is the first of the new light jets to be single- engined, using an FJ33 powerplant. Maurer says the company plans to select the avion ics suite - either the Garmin G1000 or the Honeywell Apex - by the end of the year. The aircraft's first flight will take place in mid-2005, with certification by late 2006. "We didn't want to design something that would be a small version of an existing business jet," says Maurer. "That's why we set out to develop a jet with a 25,000ft cer tificated ceiling, and a lower Mach speed than the typical business jet." The aircraft has a projected range of 2,440km, with IFR reserves, at a cruise speed of 240kt. The maximum speed will be 315kt. With a take-off runway require ment of under 730m, the D-Jet is designed for smaller airport use. In addition to the owner-flown commu nity, the D-Jet is generating considerable interest from flight schools, particularly as an introductory jet trainer, says Maurer. The price of the all-composite aircraft will be under $1 million. Maurer projects that during its first year, about 100 D-Jets will be sold, with a production run of 100- 200 units annually in subsequent years. Sport Jet arrival In January, a competitor emeged in the sin- gle-engined, owner-pilot jet market when Colorado Springs-based Excel-Jet unveiled its Sport Jet, a five-seat aircraft. According to company president Bob Bornhofen, the air craft is being designed for what he calls "the typical general aviation pilot" looking to upgrade from a single or twin piston. Bornhofen claims the Sport Jet, which will be built at Denver's Front Range airport, will have a first flight by the end of this year, with certification 18 months later. The most likely engine is the PW615 or the FJ33. The vendor for the "full glass cockpit" has not been announced. The Sport Jet will use a combination of aluminum and composite materials. The wing and aft fuselage will be aluminum, while the portion of the fuselage up to the engine face will be composite. The power- plant will be embedded in the fuselage. "We are trying to keep the Sport Jet to a very simple design with a certificated ceil ing of 25,000ft and a cruise speed of 340- 370kt at maximum altitude," says Bornhofen. He adds that it will have a run way take-off length of between 760m and 855m, with a range of l,665-l,850km (IFR reserves). The price will be about $900,000. Later this year, Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) could finalise plans to develop a sin gle-pilot jet in a joint venture with US- based Avocet. According to Gadi Cohen, general man ager of IAI's commercial aircraft group in Tel Aviv, the two firms began the project a year ago with an eye toward both the 64 20-26 JULY 2004 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fliqhtinternational.com
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