EMMA KELLY / PERTH
Three wing-in-ground-effect aircraft, one complete, included in sale after liquidators fail to find buyer for Australian firm
Auctioneers will this week sell the assets of Australian wing-in-ground-effect (WIGE) commercial aircraft manufacturer Flightship Ground Effects after liquidators failed to find a buyer for the Queensland-based company.
Flightship managing director John Leslie appointed Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu as voluntary administrators in late October as he believed the manufacturer was insolvent or approaching insolvency.
Flightship designed and developed the FS8 Dragon Commuter WIGE. Production of the single-engined, all-composite aircraft started in January 2003 after sea trials verified the design (Flight International, 28 January-3 February 2003). The aircraft is powered by a General Motors V8 automotive engine driving two propellers.
The eight to 10-seat aircraft was aimed at coastal passenger and freight services and had already received orders from Asia, Canada, the Maldives and the Middle East. The manufacturer had in addition designed a larger twin-turboprop variant, dubbed the Dragon Clipper.
The administrator attempted to recapitalise the manufacturer late last year but failed to reach agreement with stakeholders, resulting in it being placed in liquidation in December. The administrator attributed Flightship's collapse to it underestimating the costs required to bring its product to market. The company, which employed around 100 people, was owned by Singaporean businessmen and Leslie.
Deloitte tried to sell the business as a going concern. Auctioneers Strophairs will sell off the company's assets on 3 February. These include moulds and jigs, one complete FS8, two near-complete aircraft, plans, technical drawings, parts and equipment.
Source: Flight International
