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Aviation History
2004
2004-09 - 2444.PDF
GENERAL AVIATION DEVELOPMENT KATE SARSFIELD / LONDON HF Dorna launches new Blue Bird Second-generation trainer expected to receive supplemental type certification from Iranian authority next year Iranian light aircraft manufacturer HF Dorna has launched a new ver sion of its Blue Bird piston single and seeks to open a flight training school within the next few weeks. The second-generation Blue Bird trainer is set to receive supplemental type certification from the Iranian civil aviation authority by early 2005. The upgraded aircraft boasts moveable and adjustable seats, adjustable rudder, large forward opening doors and a 115hp (85kW) Bombardier Rotax 914F3 turbo- charged engine driving an MT three-blade constant-speed pro peller, says HF Dorna managing director Yaghoub Antesary. He says the company is keen to widen the market appeal of the Blue Bird, and is seeking to negoti ate with an international manufac turer joint or licence production and technology transfer for the all- composite two-seat trainer. "This includes all technical, organisa tional and executive documents, such as design reports, drawings, manufacturing and quality control documents, as well as other neces sary documents," he says. HF Doma has received 10 orders for the Blue Bird to date and hopes to clinch another 10 sales by year end, says Antesary. "We plan to launch the training school with two Blue Birds," he adds. The school will be based in Aseman Rey Flight Complex near Tehran, with courses being targeted at private individuals and airline recruits. Antesary sug gests launching Iran's first civil training school will be "hard work" initially, but as acceptance of flying training grows in Iran, demand for the conventional low-wing Blue Bird, as both a personal and training aircraft, is likely to increase. FIREFIGHTING NAFC starts evaluation Australia's National Aerial Firefight- ing Centre (NAFC) is evaluating res ponses to its recently closed request for proposals (RFP) for the country's 2005-6 fire season, ahead of seeking best and final offers from selected suppliers. The process comes as the 2004-5 fire season has started in the east and south of the country. The NAFC was formed last year as part of a National Aerial Firefighting Strategy to more effectively manage firefighting aircraft on behalf of Australia's states and territories. The NAFC says it received a good response to the RFP and is now identifying preferred suppliers that will be approached for best and final offers through a closed tender process. Contracts are due to be finalised by next May, it says, ahead of the start of the fire season in September. The NAFC is seeking suppliers for aerial firebombing ser vices, winching of firefighters, trans port of firefighters, transport of equipment, air attack supervision aircraft and training of firefighters. The centre is also seeking proposals for helicopters in three categories. SCHEDULE Diamond sets target for DA42 certification and delivery Diamond Aircraft Industries has earmarked European certification and first deliveries of its DA42 Multi Purpose Platform (MPP) for the third quar ter of next year as it readies the light piston twin for its first flight at its Weiner Neustadt, Austria base, equipped with a camera system designed by Russia's UOMZ. The camera can be used for observation roles including nature, traffic and border monitoring, and newsgathering. It features two optical cam eras and one infrared camera. The first fully equipped aircraft will make its debut at the Paris air show in June next year, according to Diamond Aircraft managing director Michael Feinig. Feinig says that the company has received an overwhelming response from all over the world to the MPP, which will be powered by the Thielert Aircraft Engines Centurion 1.7 diesel engine. DEBUT Evektor's VUT-100 Cobra makes its maiden flight Evektor-Aerotechnik's VUT-100 Cobra five-seat piston single made its first flight on 11 November at the manufacturer's Kunovice, Czech Republic base. The all-metal, low-wing Cobra is the first member of Evektor's planned family of general aviation aircraft. The company is concur rently developing the nine- to 14- seat EV-55 twin-engine turboprop, which is scheduled to make its maiden flight in the first quarter of 2007, leading to certification and first deliveries in 2008. Two versions of the Cobra are being touted: the VUT-100-120i powered by a 200hp (ISOkW) Textron Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 and the -131i, powered by the 310hp Teledyne Continental IO- The Cobra is heading for certification and first deliveries in 2006 550N. A diesel-powered variant is also under development. Evektor-Aerotechnik is focusing on the North American market, where it plans to establish a sales, marketing, distribution and support network early next year ahead of US and European certification of the Cobra in early 2006. The aircraft will make its debut in April at the Aero 2005 show in Friedrichshafen, Germany. CERTIFICATION Z-8 flies and is poised for approval China's Changhe Aircraft Industries plans to certificate a new civil version of the Z-8 heavy helicopter next year. The Z-8F flew for the first time in August, ending several months of delays in the test pro gramme. The Z-8F, derived from the Changzhou WZ6-powered Z-8 military helicopter, was originally scheduled to fly in late March, but there were problems inte grating new Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6B-67A engines. The Z-8 is China's fourth indigenous civil helicopter. www.fliqhtinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 23-29 NOVEMBER 2004 31
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