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Aviation History
2004
2004-09 - 2319.PDF
BUSINESS AVIATION HUSHKITS QTA adapts for Europe Quiet Technology Aerospace (QTA) has applied for approval of an operating procedure that brings its Gulfstream ll/lll hushkit in under "marginal Stage 3" lim its being introduced by a number of European airports. "Certain airports in populated areas where noise is a bigger issue can apply for approval of a noise limit 5dB below Stage 3," says Martin Gardner, director of engineering. Citing Amsterdam Schiphol and Stockholm Bromma airports, he says Paris also uses marginal Stage 3 as the noise limit for night flights. Stage III Technologies says its Gulfstream ll/lll hushkit reduces cumulative noise to 5.3bB below Stage 3, allowing the Rolls- Royce Spey-powered business jets to meet the marginal Stage 3 limits. Both companies are bat tling for the 400-aircraft Gulfstream ll/lll hushkit market. Gardner says QTA can reduce cumulative noise to 5.1dB below Stage 3 with a reduction in maxi mum take-off weight of 2,270kg (5,000lb) and in maximum land ing weight of 3,630kg. Even with the reduced weight, he says, the Gil can still do a full-payload tran satlantic trip, but the Gill will need a fuel stop on Europe-US trips. IN BRIE. FBO HOBBY Enterprise Jet Center has bro ken ground on a $7.5 million, 27,850m2 (300,000ft2), fixed- base operation at Houston Hobby airport, Texas, to open in the second quarter of next year The terminal and hangar centre will accommodate Global Express/Gulfstream V-size busi ness jets, with ramp capability for Boeing 737s and 757s. METROJET Hong Kong charter operator Metrojet has taken delivery of a Gulfstream G200 super mid-size business jet bringing the Chek Lap Kok-based company's fleet to four aircraft. DEVELOPMENT GUY NORRIS / PALM SPRINGS Eclipse 500 prepared for first flight at end of December Firm orders rise to over 2,130 and deposits to $65 million as tests remain on track Eclipse Aviation's production Eclipse 500 very light jet is expected to make its maiden flight at Albuquerque, New Mexico before the end of December. "Hopefully, we'll have three air craft flying by the end of January," says chief executive Vern Raburn, who adds that a December first flight will be "on the schedule we set two years ago". The first air craft's fuselage was expected to be mated with the wing on 12 November, coinciding with a planned customer review meeting to be held in Albuquerque. In addition to the first three cer tification aircraft, Eclipse plans to add fatigue and static airframes in January and April, respectively, with the former due to undergo testing to simulate the Eclipse's 20,000 cycle/20-year design life. Two additional "beta" test aircraft will also join the programme early in 2005 to simulate a full service life of around 1,000 cycles each. Firm orders have risen to 2,132 taking total non-refundable deposits to $65 million. Plans remain on track to assemble 260 aircraft in the first 12 months, and up to 880 in the second. "A rate of three aircraft a day is supportable," says Raburn, who adds $326 million in equity funding has been raised so far. "We have raised more capital than all the other start-ups put together," he says. The total estimated pro gramme cost remains "between $350 million and $450 million". Raburn says Eclipse is "on track" for US Federal Aviation Administration certification in the first quarter of 2006. The Seawind 300C is attracting interest as a sightseeing and resort-hopping aircraft AMPHIBIAN KATE SARSFIELD / LONDON Seawind 300C certification close as Middle Eastern interest grows Seawind Aircraft has targeted late next year for certification of its sin- gle-engined amphibian, the Seawind 300C, while the Penn sylvania-based manufacturer evalu ates a glass cockpit option for the five-seat aircraft. Seawind says US Federal Aviation Administration and Transport Canada certification testing are run ning concurrently. "Testing is pro ceeding as planned," says Seawind's Europe and Middle East representa tive Tony Irwin. "We have nearly completed landing gear drop tests and seat crashworthiness tests are going well." First flight is planned for early next year, he says. The Texton Lycoming IO-540- powered aircraft was originally developed as a kit, of which 50 air craft were sold, but Seawind says the market for a certificated amphibian aimed at small busi nesses and owner-flyers is substan tial as there are currently no other in-production seaplanes available. Two versions of the aircraft will be sold. A basic visual flight rules model equipped with Garmin's Apollo avionics, and an Instrument Flight Rules type for which Seawind is evaluating the Garmin G1000 and Avidyne Entegra inte grated glass cockpits. Seawind has chalked up 20 orders for the aircraft to date. Notable in terest is being expressed by Middle Eastern operators. Irwin says: "Tourism is booming in this region where Seawind is viewed as an ideal sightseeing air craft, or as a vehicle to transport cus tomers to and from the region's resorts and hotels." 26 16-22 NOVEMBER 2004 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fliqhtinternational.com
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