Liberty Aerospace is optimistic about private sector potential for its pioneering two-seat light aircraft, based on sales by its former subsidiary of more than 1,000 of the Europa kit aircraft - 100 of which were in the Asia-Pacific region.
A full-scale mockup of the new Liberty XL2, the first aircraft of its type to be certified by the US Federal Aviation Administation for more than 30 years and the first general aviation aircraft to be certified with a Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) engine, is on display at Asian Aerospace.
Company president, Anthony Tiarks says: "We believe the certified Liberty XL2 will become the standard for two-seat training and private touring aircraft, and in fact our first sale was for three aircraft to an Australian flying school.
"The demand for training in the region is already there and there are other regional developments that will only increase the demand."
Although private sector demand is expected to drive sales, particularly in countries where the Europa kits sold well, including Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Japan, Liberty Aerospace's objective in Singapore is to take advantage of interest in the use of the aircraft as a multipurpose surveillance and military aircraft.
Tiarks says the XL2's payload, range, speed and cost make it an economic alternative to helicopters for surveillance missions. The aircraft has a 270kg (600lb) payload, 900km (500nm) range and 43kt (80km/h) stall speed, and would cost around $400,000 equipped with the FLIR Systems Ultra 8500FW long-range fixed-wing FLIR sensor.
He adds: "Endurance in the surveillance configuration would be around 5h and operating costs would only be 3% of a rotary wing option."
HUGH MCATEAR
Source: Flight Daily News