By Carl Chance, Wings Over Kansas’ aviation & aerospace correspondent, former news consultant and producer for Wingspan Air & Space Channel.
Hawker Beechcraft Receives More than 70 Commitments for New Premier II : New light business jet spurs increased orders.
Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) revealed that the number of commitments for the recently announced new Beechcraft Premier II has grown to more than 70 positions, including more than 40 firm orders.
"The customer response has been fantastic. Those who have experienced a Premier know that they are flying or operating a true breakthrough aircraft," said Brad Hatt, Hawker Beechcraft president, Commercial Aircraft. "The Premier’s unmistakable comfort, now combined with a phenomenal boost in performance, makes the Premier II an airplane pilots and companies can’t wait to own and operate."
HBC announced the launch of the Beechcraft Premier II at the European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, Switzerland. The new light business jet evolves from the highly successful Premier 1A and will feature higher cruise speeds, 20 percent longer range with four passengers and increased payload, while still offering the largest cabin and most technologically advanced single-pilot business jet in the world. The Premier II’s performance, cabin and technology will provide the ideal light jet choice for pilot owners and business operators.
The Premier II will be a twin turbofan, swept wing, light jet aircraft featuring a high-strength, advanced composite fuselage that allows for a medium-jet sized cabin at light jet costs. New winglets and the new powerful and highly efficient Williams International FJ44-3AP engines, each producing 3,000 pounds of thrust, will allow the Premier II to climb unrestricted to 45,000 feet and fly a 1,500 nm (2,778 km) mission with one pilot and four passengers (800 lbs. payload).
Additionally, the higher thrust engines will increase maximum cruise speed to 465 knots (861 km/hr) at 33,000 feet and improve high/hot take-off operations. The Premier’s renowned comfortable standard seating for up to six passengers and their baggage will be a luxury standard in the Premier II.
First flight of the aircraft is scheduled for April 2009 with FAA Certification for Q2 2010. European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) certification is planned for Q4 2010.
Bombardier Learjet 85 Aircraft Composite Structure Manufacturing to Take Place at Queretaro Facility.
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Final assembly, interior completions, flight test and customer delivery will be based in Wichita, Kansas.
Corporate aviation leader Bombardier announced its facility in Queretaro, Mexico will manufacture the composite structure for its all-new, state-of-the-art Learjet 85 business jet. The Queretaro site will also manufacture the electrical harness and perform sub-assembly systems installation. Final assembly, interior completions, flight test and customer delivery of this next-generation aircraft will take place at Bombardier’s Wichita facility, home of the legendary Learjet brand.
"Mexico is key to the development of a highly competitive aerospace industry in Central and South America, as well as to Bombardier’s increased competitiveness in the international marketplace," said Jean Seguin, Vice-President Engineering and Supply Chain, Bombardier Aerospace. "With our facility in Queretaro, we continue to expand our manufacturing capacity while increasing the efficiency of our operations. In keeping with our tradition of innovation, the composite manufacturing capacity we are adding to our plant in Mexico is an excellent complement to the approximately 40 years of experience in advanced composites technologies developed at our Bombardier facilities."
"The name Learjet embodies a legacy of excellence in the history of business aviation and as with all our Learjet aircraft, Wichita will remain the site for final completion of our new Learjet 85 aircraft," said David Coleal, Vice-President and General Manager, Learjet Product Line.
Cessna’s Orders at EBACE Total $750 Million for 88 Aircraft.
Cessna Aircraft Company wrapped up the eighth annual European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, Switzerland, with 88 new aircraft orders totaling nearly $750 million.
During the three-day event, Cessna took orders for 70 Citation business jets, 14 Caravans and four single-engine pistons. These orders include two announced on EBACE’s opening-day, 24 business jet orders from Austrian charter giant JETALLIANCE and 20 Citation Mustangs from Russian air taxi operator Dexter. The orders also include those from Air Alliance GmbH, one of Europe’s most active Cessna Caravan Authorized Sales Representatives. Air Alliance ordered six 208B Grand Caravans, a 172 Skyhawk and 182 Skylane.
"Or sales and marketing team on the ground in Geneva, as well as the support staff back in the United States, worked hard to close these deals and make this one of our most successful appearance at EBACE," said Roger Whyte, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing for Cessna. "It is key to note these orders encompassed our entire Citation line and involved our piston and turboprop models as well. Our broad product range allows us to match an aircraft to fit any mission our customers have."
Spirit AeroSystems Secures Airbus A350 XWB Contract: Announces U.S. Expansion.
Spirit AeroSystems, Inc. announced it has signed a contract with Airbus to design and produce a major composite fuselage structure for the A350 XWB (Xtra Wide-Body) program. Spirit will design and manufacture the section 15 center fuselage frame section, a composite structure that will be approximately 65 feet long, 20 feet wide and weigh nearly 9,000 pounds.
"Partnering with Airbus on the A350 XWB is a significant step in our company’s history," said Jeff Turner, Spirit President and CEO. "It highlights our focus on creating long-term value for Spirit shareholders by growing our company with new customers."
"Spirit is pleased to be selected as a partner on this exciting new airplane program," said Dan Wheeler, Spirit A350 Program Director. "We’re proud to have won this contract through a global competitive bidding process, and will begin work on the design phase of the program immediately."
Note: We’ll publish continuing news and items of interest in the next "Air Capital Aviation Report" as they develop. Please keep logging on to www.wingsoverkansas.com for weekly aviation and aerospace updates on stories, features, history, news, education and more!