This week seems to be all about new and emerging aeroplanes, with movements from Pacific Aerospace, Pipistrel, Cirrus and Gulfstream. Add to that some scraps of news coming out of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) conference in Florida and Australian Flying's inbox has been overflowing. Most of the announcements are about new interiors, avionics upgrades and so forth, but there were some interesting developments in those areas.
Probably the key announcement for the week was the type certificate for the Cirrus SF50 Vision. The aircraft is now ready for delivery to customers, a whacking 10 years after the first deposits were taken. You have to hand it to Cirrus for persistence and for displaying a remarkable amount of belief in this aeroplane. When it started out, the Cirrus jet was one of several single-engine designs that were touted as the new-age of personal aviation during the Very Light Jet (VLJ) phase the industry went through; Diamond's D-Jet, Piper Altaire, Eclipse 400 and Comp Air Jet were just a few that never made it to market. Now the SF50 is a reality, the aviation industry will be able to measure the genuine demand for single-engined jets for the very first time. It would have been a major blow to the industry if the SF50 had fallen by the wayside permanently; this is an aeroplane that we need to have.
Another very interesting move is Pacific Aerospace putting the E-350 Expedition back into production. This is a back-country hauler designed by Found Aircraft in Canada, so you just know it's as solid as a moose. PAC grabbed the type certificate after Found collapsed, and are targeting the burgeoning Chinese GA market with aircraft built in Hamilton NZ. We might start to see some of them arriving at airports in Australia soon as well. Although we're a drop in the ocean (a shrinking one at that) compared to China, the Expedition could find demand here as well, particularly in the outback.The register shows only one of these in Australia, but with PAC putting them back on the radar, that could change.
China has also proven a bit of a golden goose for Slovenian builder Pipistrel. After signing a contract to build and market their electric and hybrid Alpha Electro and Panthera Hybrid in China, they've announced a project to develop a hybrid 19-seat aircraft. This is one of the most ambitious projects around at the moment, and a sign that both Pipistrel and new partner Sino GA Group believe that green energy is the way of the future for GA ... in China anyway. By function, 19-seaters are big aeroplanes, and it will be a real step forward if Pipistrel can make one work using electricity and hydrogen fuel cells.
Angel Flight is currently on the warpath for new volunteer pilots. Angel Flight links people who regularly need to make long road trips for medical reasons with pilots who are prepared to fly them. All you need to have is access to a VH-registered certified aeroplane that isn't a warbird and 250 hours experience as pilot in command. If you're going VFR you'll need five hours time-on-type or ten hours time-on-type if you're planning IFR. It's that simple, but you'll be providing a service to people that will be invaluable to them. Check out their website at www.angelflight.org.au and if you're ready to go, sign up today!
May your gauges always be in the green,
Hitch