ADAM AIRCRAFT - FEATURED MANUFACTURER, ECLIPSE AVIATION, DUBAI LAUNCHES US$15Bn, GLOBAL AVIATION HUB
Category: GA Buyer Europe Magazine
Author: TURBINE NEWS
FEATURED MANUFACTURER – Adam Aircraft AdamJet A700 Page 48
First Flight of A700 AdamJet Production Aircraft
The first flight of the A700 AdamJet, took place in early February. The aircraft was Serial Number 002, the first of three aircraft slated for conforming FAA flight-testing. The airplane, piloted by Bill Watters, Vice President of Flight Operations, and Ken Sasine, Senior Turbine Test Pilot, achieved a smooth takeoff as it flew the pattern for its intended 34-minute maiden flight at Centennial Airport (KAPA), Englewood, Colorado.
"The aircraft handled very well, stability was excellent, and the flight controls were very responsive and predictable," commented Sasine. "The throttle response was smooth and strong, and the climb performance was strong and steady. The airplane handled just as we expected." "We're exceptionally pleased with the progress of the A700 jet program, and this first flight accelerates our A700 certification effort," said CEO Rick Adam. "The A700 Williams FJ-33 engines are already FAA-certified, and the 65% commonality from our FAA-Certified twin-engine piston will significantly reduce the A700 time-to-certification."
A700 Serial Number 002 is painted and striped in its full air taxi livery, and features a production instrument panel with three-tube Avidyne Entegra avionics. The aircraft is constructed from production tooling, featuring a production fuselage with improved cabin window and emergency exit placement, with the balance of the aircraft manufactured from A500 production parts common to the A700.
ST Engineering and Adam Aircraft Sign Agreement
- Strategic Partnership for Very Light Jet and Piston Aircraft
Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd (ST Engineering), through its aerospace arm, Singapore Technologies Aerospace Ltd (ST Aerospace), today signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Adam Aircraft to establish a strategic partnership to address the very light jet (VLJ) and piston aircraft market segments.
Under the partnership, ST Aerospace will provide engineering, logistics (including components), maintenance, repairs and overhaul (MRO) support for VLJ and the twin piston aircraft designed by Adam Aircraft. Tapping on ST Engineering's strength in these areas, Adam Aircraft seeks to lower the cost of ownership and provide total aviation support for its light jet and piston aircraft. The partnership will also provide ST Aerospace with the option, exercisable within seven years, to invest up to US$50m in the company.
For more information on ST Engineering visit - www.stengg.com
For more information on the A700 or Adam Aircraft visit - www.adamaircraft.com
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Eclipse Aviation
First Customer Eclipse 500 Jet Production Started
- First customer, David Crowe gears up to take delivery of serial number 001
At the end of February, Eclipse Aviation celebrated a major milestone as it began building the first Eclipse 500 jet that will be delivered to a customer. As a crowd of employees gathered to witness the initiation of production, the first customer, David Crowe, stepped up to engage the friction stir welding of one of his future jet's cockpit side panels and to drill window attachment holes in the cockpit frame.
Vern Raburn, Eclipse Aviation president and CEO, joined Eclipse employees to observe the production start. "This is another very exciting day at Eclipse because this is all part of the process of becoming a successful and enduring company," said Vern as he watched Mr. Crowe begin the friction stir welding of the cockpit panel. "We couldn't be happier than to be building this Eclipse 500 for Mr. Crowe - thank you David, we really appreciate your faith and confidence."
Mr. Crowe will receive his Eclipse 500 this summer. His visit was an incredible boost to the Eclipse team members who had a firsthand opportunity to see his enthusiasm for their efforts. As Mr. Crowe finished drilling the holes on the cockpit, he told the group of Eclipsers watching, "It's beautiful. It takes some pretty special people to have the dedication to carry through a project like the Eclipse 500. Folks who work here are not just punching timecards - I can feel that every time I visit."
Eclipse is continuing Eclipse 500 flight testing as the company moves aggressively towards FAA certification in late Q2 of this year. The company was recently honored for the development of the Eclipse 500 by the National Aeronautic Association, which awarded Eclipse the prestigious Robert J. Collier Trophy for the "greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America." Eclipse's Raburn was also honored in Singapore last week by Flight International with the Aviation Excellence Awards - Publishers Award as "leading a revolution in private and business aviation."
For further information visit - www.eclipseaviation.com
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Dubai Launches US$15Bn Global Aviation Hub
Dubai launched another landmark initiative towards the end of February. Announced were plans to tap a Dh3.67 trillion (US$1 trillion) global aviation industry and to transfer international aviation and aeronautics technology to the region. It is setting up Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), a global aerospace manufacturing and services corporation with an investment of Dh55 billion (US$15 billion) to be spent in the next five years.
The initiative, to be based in the 140-square-kilometre Jebel Ali Airport City (JAAC), will create the world's largest aviation hub and prepare Dubai to participate in major aircraft manufacturing programmes in future, most likely the Airbus A350 programme.It will focus on component and engine manufacturing and assembly, airport development and operations, aircraft leasing and finance, aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), space services, aircraft brokerage, education and training, aviation media and events, and aviation IT systems, among others. The government-owned entity will acquire about 30 wide-bodied aircraft and offer them on lease to regional carriers while seeking major airport and free zone development and management contracts across Asia, specifically in India and China . DAE is currently in negotiations with aircraft manufacturers Boeing, Airbus and others to transfer technology to Dubai.
DAE, which will become the holding company for six operational subsidiaries involved in manufacturing and services in 14 industry segments, will be the world's largest aviation company in terms of activities, officials said. Six government entities; Dubai International Capital, Emaar Properties, Istithmar, Dubai International Financial Centre, Amlak Finance and Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority, backed by the Government of Dubai, will have equal stakes in DAE, which will have a mix of debt and equity.
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