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Q4 Ends Strong For Gulfstream But Deliveries Still Lapse
To get an idea as to how the large cabin sector of the executive jet industry is doing just take a look at how one of the big players in that segment performs. For Gulfstream, the last quarter of 2020 ended strong but overall deliveries lapsed for the company. Some nitpick at figures but overall the company did well in the prevailing world circumstances of the Corona Virus Pandemic. For example, in Q4 of 2020 Gulfstream delivered 40 jets which was down by 4 aircraft compared to Q4 2019. The jet deliveries comprised of a hefty share of large cabin jets - 34 large cabin category jets accounted for in the 40 jets delivered...
Russia Certifies HondaJet ELITE
Another major certification body has given the nod to the Honda Aircraft Company's HondaJet ELITE. The Russians (Federal Air Transport Agency (FATA) have now certified the Over The Wing Engine Mount executive jet. In fact the first Russian Registered HondaJet ELITE started service immediately after the news of the certification. As a reminder, the HondaJet ELITE has approval from a multiplicity of world certification bodies and countries...
Production Starts For Bye Aerospace eFlyer 2
Bye Aerospace is moving full steam ahead with the start of production for its eFlyer 2. Yesterday the company made the announcement and that they have partnered with Composites Universal Group (CUG) to begin assembly of the production eFlyer 2 fuselage, the first major component being assembled...
Y6SPlus eVTOL By Autonomous Flight
Something new again in the eVTOL space is coming to the market. It is called the Y6SPlus aptly named for its ability to carry six persons and its Y-shaped design from above. To be fair the Autonomous Flight eVTOL existed before in design but only as a two-seat initial variant. The Y6SPlus is the new current design evolution of it from the UK based startup . If and when the eVTOL becomes certificated and available they are suggesting that a commute from Lower Manhattan to JFK would take just eight (8) minutes. London Heathrow to Battersea Heliport is just twelve (12) minutes...
Twist; AeroTec/Magnix eCaravan For Sale
The last time JF explored this collaboration between AeroTec and Magnix on the eCaravan with the electric 750 horsepower powerplant there was news that during a test flight the aircraft lost partial power. Earlier last year an inverter issue shutdown resulting in a loss of approximately a quarter of the aircraft's power. The testbed returned to the ground safely without incident...
Key Development Milestone Achieved By EcoPulse™
The latest project collaboration between multiple interests has reached a key developmental milestone. Of course we are talking about the EcoPulse™ which is under development by trio, Airbus, Safran and Daher mainly but with support from France’s CORAC civil aviation research council. The base aircraft being utilized is a TBM model from Daher...
Wing Production Facility Opens For HondaJet ELITE
Starting construction in mid-2019 and completing in September of 2020, the new wing production facility for Honda Aircraft Company's HondaJet ELITE is now operational having been recently opened. It is a new 83,100 square foot facility now added to the growing Honda Aircraft Company campus in Greensboro, North Carolina. The extra production space represents a further investment of 24.3 million dollars...
Fiat Chrysler In On Archer Aviation eVTOL
An eVTOL that is in the works from new-comer start-up Archer Aviation has received significant interest from the Fiat Chrysler automotive (FCA) company. This interest though, so far is to provide the aviation company with composites and support engineering wise. It is not clear if this will eventually translate into big financial backing from the automotive giant. None-the-less it is yet another automotive company that wants to get its hands in the eVTOL space. Previous automotive companies like Toyota and even Hyundai have thrown their hat into the eVTOL space partnering with budding aerospace entities of this market...
100th Pilatus PC-24 Delivered Since 2018
Pilatus Aircraft today announced that they have delivered the 100th example of the Pilatus PC-24 Super Versatile Jet to customers around the world. In less than three years the Stans-Switzerland based company has achieved this milestone delivery. PC-24s are around the world performing a myriad of duties including executive travel for charter and leisure, personal use, medivac services and transport for Government officials...
Second King Air 350CER Delivered To NOAA
The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has taken delivery of a second Textron Aviation King Air 350CER (Cargo-Extended Range) aircraft. The first one was delivered to the scientific weather organization back in 2009. "We are honored the King Air 350CER aircraft continues to be the aircraft of choice to fill a variety of critical mission needs for NOAA," said Textron Aviation special mission sales v-p Bob Gibbs...
First Legacy 450 Converted To Praetor 500 In Europe
In mid-2020 JF alerted you that Embraer was undertaking the first Legacy 450 conversion to upgrade it to a Praetor 500 model. Embraer has now marked their first Legacy 450 to Praetor 500 conversion in Europe as well. The conversion work was actually done at a service center in France, in Le Bourget to be precise...
Cessna Announces New Flight Data Monitoring Service For Citation Jets
With the recently made announcement of the provision of advanced Flight Data Monitoring Service options for Citation Jets, the CJ4 will be the first in the family of Citation jet models to receive this. There is a bit of a catch though, aircraft should be equipped with Aircraft Recording System II (AReS II)...
Magnix eCaravan Suffered Electric Power Loss During Testing
Earlier this year JF alerted you to the first flight of the Magnix 'eCaravan'. Essentially it is a retrofitted Cessna C208 Caravan. It was retrofitted in a collaboration between Magnix and AeroTec and replaces the regular Pratt & Whitney PT6A engine with a Magni500 electric engine capable of 750 horse power. Of course the Pratt & Whitney powerplant was a bit more powerful at 867 horse power. The catch here though is that this Caravan is fully electric and operates without any major emissions. The technology though being tested has a promising future but won't come without fault as Magnix experienced earlier in the year while testing...
Europe Welcomes Gulfstream G600 Into Service
The Gulfstream G600 has officially entered service in Europe now. The customer of the of the first European EASA certified G600 has not been disclosed, Gulfstream only reveals the company is based in Europe. "We are glad our customers in Europe can now register their G600 on the continent and easily experience the advanced technology and cabin comfort of the aircraft," said Gulfstream president Mark Burns, noting positive feedback the company has received from the use of the aircraft’s Symmetry Flight Deck and cabin features...
P.180 Avanti EVO Ordered By Italian Fire Brigade
The Italian National Fire Brigade has made an order to Piaggio Aerospace for a single P.180 Avanti EVO. The Italian National Fire Brigade is expected to receive the aircraft by Summer 2021. The sale was actually announced back in late October by the Extraordinary Commissioner of Piaggio Aerospace, Vincenzo Nicastro, during a Virtual meeting. The aircraft will be built tailored to the needs of the Italian National Fire Brigade. It is expected to be used for personnel transport for as many as eight passengers. Search and Rescue (SAR) missions will naturally be carried out and the aircraft will carry one stretcher...
Dassault Aviation Rolls Out First Falcon 6X
The latest Dassault Falcon business jet has been officially rolled out during a virtual session on December 8th. "Today’s rollout is a significant achievement. I am very pleased to present the addition of an all-new aircraft design within the Falcon family, the ultra widebody Falcon 6X," said Dassault Aviation Chairman Eric Trappier...
Airbus Corporate Jets Records Relatively Strong Year So Far
For many, 2020 has been a year that saw significant hits to operations and revenues earned for obvious reasons but Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJ) appear to be singing a different tune. They have recorded a fairly decent 2020 so far with their ultra-luxe executive bespoke versions of Airbus' commercial airliners. While speaking at the NBAA-VBACE, ACJ President, Benoit Defforge suggested that ACJ has been able to keep pace with deliveries so far for the year despite the complexities and challenges of the pandemic...
King Air 260 Unveiled As Top King Air 200 Series
Textron Aviation is on a mission to upgrade its major workhorses of the larger members of the King Air family of turboprops. They have done this by unveiling the King Air 260 which essentially is a current-feature packed top-of-the-line King Air 200 series. Textron recently unveiled the King Air 360/360ER which was then validated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and has commenced deliveries. Some of the new features are being handed down to the smaller King Air 260 to keep customers in that segment happy...
Cessna Denali Development Progress
Perhaps the last time we wrote on the progress of the Cessna Denali, the program was going relatively smoothly. However, this update sees the first flight of the Cessna Denali delayed because of some hiccups at GE Aviation which is the company responsible for manufacturing the powerplant for the Denali. GE Aviation is making the 1,240 shp Catalyst engine for the Single Engine Turbo Prop...
Hypersonic Hermeus Project Moves Ahead With New Funding
Ever heard of the Hermeus Project? This is a hypersonic executive aircraft...yes hypersonic, envisioned -at this stage- for U.S presidential travel. The Mach 5 aircraft won a contract from the United States Air Force after its scratch-built engine proved to be more than promising. The scratch-built powerplant was successfully tested in February. Hermeus was formed back in 2018. In the space of supersonic contenders for executive jets there is Aerion and BOOM supersonic but Hermeus stands out as one of the premier contenders in the hypersonic category...
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