All will be revealed in Kansas?
In the tradition of the military spokesman, Phil Michel, Cessna's marketing vice-president, would neither confirm nor deny whether the company was looking at a diesel engine offering for its single engine aircraft range.
He did however make a cryptic comment at the show: "Come to Wichita and you will probably see something."
He was more direct when it came to a question about the ultimate potential for the current batch of entry-level jets, including Cessna's Citation Mustang, saying: "Sales people are paranoid so yes, we take all the competition seriously."
He wouldn't commit to ultimate sales potential. The company was confident based on the current order book, but less confident of the odds for all of the contenders coming to market.
New Russian amphibian rumoured
Reports are emerging of a planned first flight of a six-seat Russian amphibian aircraft this coming summer.
Some 800 copies of the twin-engined Aleks-251 could be built for use by an undisclosed Russian state organisation. It is not planned for civilian use or for export.
The aircraft will have several unique qualities, including a high load ratio, short take-off and landing properties, and flight range in ferry mode without additional tanks of nearly 5,000km (2,700nm) with one pilot.
It will be by powered two Czech-produced Lom Praga M332S piston engines.
Cessna celebrates first CJ3 roll-out
Cessna's first production Citation CJ3 has been rolled out in Wichita, Kansas as the company announced the type certification programme is on schedule for the middle of the year.
Certification flight-testing for the CJ3 has reached over 567h in 345 flights The manufacturer recently finished induced icing development and certification flights, and has begun flights in natural icing.
Launched at the 2002 National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) convention, the CJ3 is designed for single pilot operation.
Sharejet bases GIV at Seletar
Singapore's Seletar airport last week became home to a Gulfsteam GIV operated by Guam-based Sharejet.
The only aircraft of its size available for charter in the region, it is thought likely to form the backbone of a partnership between Sharejet and Indonesian flag carrier Garuda.
Source: Flight Daily News