JUSTIN WASTNAGE / LONDON
New variants to be developed, including four-seater and slightly wider version for USA
Mooney Airplane has entered into a strategic relationship with Spanish kitplane manufacturer Construcciones Aeron uticas de Galicia (CAG), which will lead to assembly of the Toxo II light sport aircraft in the USA.
Mooney will lead certification efforts for the aircraft and act as distributor in a joint venture company that will also develop new variants including a four-seat version.
The US variant, to be renamed the Mooney Toxo, will have a fuselage 150mm (6in) wider and 100mm taller than the European variant, which is sold as a kitplane in some countries and as a pre-assembled aircraft in others under the ultralight category.
The all-composite aircraft will be assembled from parts manufactured by global suppliers at the Mooney facility in Kerrville, Texas, and be marketed with a choice of a Rotax 912 or 914 engine, says Antonio Castelo Silvira, CAG managing director.
Nelson Happy, Mooney president, describes the move as a "major step", as "no other traditional aircraft manufacturer has entered the light sport aircraft market before". Happy says Mooney selected CAG as a partner because the €100,000 ($113,000) Toxo is "a miracle of engineering and design".
Castelo says the agreement is based on forecast sales of around 2,000 units over eight years. In addition, Mooney is working with CAG to develop a four-seat variant, dubbed the Toxo IV, which will be ready for first delivery by the end of next year, he says. CAG will also build the fuselage for the proposed MooneyJet personal jet project.
Source: Flight International
