graham warwick / washington dc
US company McCotter Aviation plans European production and certification of MC2400 six-seat TwinJet derivative
Undeterred by the hurdles facing other new entrants into the small jet market, US company McCotter Aviation is planning European production and certification of a six-seat derivative of the Maverick TwinJet kitplane.
McCotter, which acquired Maverick this year, has signed a deal with a European partner to develop the jet, codenamed MC2400, says president Bob Schultz.
McCotter is "well into design" of the MC2400, he says, with windtunnel testing scheduled to begin in October. Plans call for the production prototype to fly in July next year, leading to European JAR 23 certification in July 2003. Schultz says the programme will be "fully funded" by company owner Jim McCotter, a Colorado businessman, and the unnamed European partner, avoiding the financing problems encountered by other new entrants into the market.
Compared with the four-seat TwinJet, the MC2400 has a longer and taller cabin, bigger wing and tail, and more powerful engines. Four engine candidates in the 1,000-1,200lb (4.5-5.3kN) thrust category are being evaluated, says Schultz - the Agilis TF1000, Pratt &Whitney Canada PW600, Williams International FJ33 and a new small turbofan under consideration by Teledyne Continental. Engine selection is due by September.
Schultz says the MC2400 design is "very low risk" because it is based on that of the TwinJet. Whereas the kitplane is all-composite, the certificated aircraft may not be. "We are considering other options with a view to reducing certification risk," he says.
The European entity responsible for production and certification will be "up and running" by mid-September, says Schultz, and McCotter plans to begin taking deposits on the $1.5 million MC2400 at next month's National Business Aircraft Association show.
Performance claims include a 400kt (740km/h) cruise speed and 2,800km (1,500nm) range. Design features include "room for six large adults", a wide clamshell entry door and big windows, made possible by pressurising the aircraft for flight up to 29,000-31,000ft (8,800-9,400m), and not higher.
Source: Flight International
