Warrior (Aero-Marine) has secured half of the required investment from North American and UK-based sources to fund development and certification of its single-engined Centaur light seaplane.
The £15 million ($22 million) cash injection, derived from a mixture of private and public investment, is conditional on the UK company providing tangible evidence of customer commitment to the programme.
Warrior managing director James Labouchere notes: "This will be achieved by providing prospective customers with vouchers toward tradable production slots with face values in excess of $150,000, and stock in Warrior."
The UK company plans to launch a sales and marketing drive in April, through its new US-based subsidiary. "We know there is a huge market for this aircraft from private and commercial operators, particularly in the USA, but we now have to prove it to our investors," Labouchere says.
The all-composite Textron Lycoming IO-540-powered Centaur, the hull design of which is inspired by slender-hulled high-performance yachts, will offer a range of around 2,200km (1,200nm) and a maximum cruise speed of around 125kt (235km/h).
Warrior has completed the conceptual design work and flown a one-fifth scale model of the six-seat Centaur. Flight testing of the first of four prototypes is set to begin in around 18 months.
Labouchere adds: "We plan to certificate and deliver the first aircraft within four years of receiving the funding."
Source: Flight International
