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Home | Update | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles | FR 1/97 NBAA '96: BUSINESS AVIATION HAS BRIGHT FUTURE by Norbert Burgner Another NBAA that was marked by records: more visitors and more exhibitors than at last year's show. The industry's order books are filled: until 2000 there are no business jets available from any one of the big manufacturers. The manufacturers are confident in the current market situation - a must, since the next market set-back will unquestionably come sometime in the future. Still, the international Business Aviation can be satisfied with the current upwind. There was no doubt, the program launch of the first civil tilt-rotor aircraft, the Bell-Boeing 609, was the highlight of the 49th NBAA in Orlando. With this fixed-wing/rotary aircraft, which combines vertical take-off and landing capabilities with hight cruise speeds, not only a new aircraft was launched, but also a traffic concept which had been controversially discussed in the past years. "The commercial tilt-rotor aircraft will revolutionize the air transport system as we know it", said Jim Morris, Vice President and General Manager of the Boeing Defense & Space Group Helicopter Division. Powered by two Pratt & Whitney PT-6 turbines, the 609 is supposed to reach airspeeds of 270 kts flying at an altitude of 27000 ft, realizing ranges of up to 750 NM. As compared to conventional helicopters, the 609 would transport its six to nine passengers twice as fast over double the distance at the typical costs of a twin-engine helicopter. According to Bell head, Webb Joiner, the 609 will cost approximately eight to ten million dollars. Both companies see a market potential of 1000 aircraft over the next 20 years. The 609's first flight is scheduled for 1999. At that point in time, the Ayres Loadmaster is already supposed to have proved its qualities for Federal Express. The world's leading overnight cargo carrier has signed a letter of intent for 50 aircraft and options for a further 200 units of the freighter which, at first glance, looks like a single engine aircraft. However, the LM200 is powered by two LHTEC CPT800 turbines (2400 hp together) which power a single propeller via a combining gearbox. This gives the 8,6 ton aircraft a payload capacity of 3398 kg. Ayres' President and CEO, Fred Ayres, plans to offer the Loadmaster in five basic configurations. The small manufacturer from Albany, Georgia, plans the first flight for the end of 1998 and FedEx plans to put the first LM200 in operation in 1999. Fred Ayres wants to sell 600 Loadmasters by the year 2010. Based on turnover expectations of up to two billion dollars, the price per aircraft would be approximately 3,4 million dollars. For only half that price, at $1,65 million, the VisionAire Vantage, the world's first single-engine business jet, is available. Announced at last year's NBAA, the all-composite jet, which was developed by Burt Rutan, accomplished its first flight on November 16, 1996, immediately prior to the show. Powered by one PWC JT15D-5 turbofan, it is supposed to run at 40 percent less operating costs than conventional twinjets. VisionAire points out Vantage's 15 Cents of fuel costs per passenger mile which is significantly lower than other business jets and even single-engine turboprop aircraft, such as the Socata TBM 700 (17 Cents). The Vantage is supposed to be certified by the fall of 1998. According to VisionAire Chairman, James Rice, there are 52 orders in the company's book. Several size and price categories above the Vantage is the new Hawker Horizon which is to fly at the beginning of 1999. At a price of $14,5 million, it will be the largest Hawker ever built, offering 28,5 m3 more cabin room (60 percent more) than the -800. Powered by two PWC PW308A turbofans, the Horizon is supposed to carry a maximum of twelve passengers over a range of 3400 NM. The US manufacturer claims a maximum cruise speed of Mach 0.84 for the Horizon. Raytheon President, Roy Norris, forecasts first deliveries for 2001. Competing at almost the same price is the Astra Galaxy from Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI). The manufacturer just recently set up a North American dependence to improve the marketing chances on the important US market: The former Astra Jet Corporation is renamed Galaxy Aerospace, for the time being based at the same location in Princeton, New Jersey. The new company is a joint venture of IAI and the American Pritzker family. Ex Learjet head, Brian Barents, is managing Galaxy Aerospace and, as President and CEO, is to push the smaller mid-size jet Astra SPX and the wide-body Galaxy against rivals such as the Horizon and established competitors like the Falcon 2000 or the Canadair Challenger. Four prototypes are currently in final assembly. The first flight is planned for the fall of 1997. At a cruise speed of up to Mach 0.85, the Galaxy is supposed to offer a transoceanic range of 3700 NM. According to the newest announcement, Bombardier's Global Express is supposed to fly 3000 NM farther than that. A new measurement of the wing tank volume has supposedly revealed that all of the originally designed fuel load can fit into these tanks, leaving room for an additional 2500 lbs of fuel in the fuselage tank, giving an additional range which even supersedes the one of arch rival Gulfstream GV by 200 NM. A total of four prototypes are used for the 2000 flight hour certification program. Certification of the Global Express is expected for 1998. Gulfstream's GV was originally supposed to have received its certification by the beginning of the show. However, small problems have supposedly delayed the schedule. According to Gulfstream President, Bill Boisture, this was mainly due to a necessary modification of the wings which had shown structural weaknesses in some inner sections. Once more, there was a discussion about the German-made engines. According to Gulfstream, the "shipset" of the two BMW Rolls-Royce BR710 turbofans is 500 lbs overweight (. According to Bill Boisture, the maximum take-off weight will have to be increased from the current 89000 lbs to 90500 lbs. However, he promises that "we will keep our guarantees concerning cruise speed and range", mainly due to additional 169 liters of fuel that were "found" and the lower than expected specific fuel consumption of the BR710s, compensating for the additional weight. Comparing speeds and ranges of the two competitors, the Gulfstream has a 45 minute disadvantage (based on Mach 0.80). However, this is no problem for Gulfstream head, Theo Forstman: "We have 70 orders, our competitor only 53. This is a difference of 17 aircraft or almost $600 million, which is what counts. There will always be people who want to buy a Gulfstream and nothing else and people who want a different aircraft." Gulfstream Vice Chairman, Brian T. Moss, added that Bombardier was forced to do something after Gulfstream had gained so much lead in sales. Bombardier should start feeling some pressure in the Learjet 45 project. Once announced as the new flagship, nothing was said about the jet and there was no news released in Orlando of when the new Lear will be certified. Dassault's Falcon 50EX is flying far away from such problems. The new mid-size trijet received the certification of the French DGAC on November 15 and the French manufacturer announced during the show that the FAA certification is due. According to Dassault, the year 1997 is to become a record year for the company. The French manufacturer wants to deliver 56 business jets in the coming year, including twelve 50EX, 20 Falcon 2000 and 24 900B and 900EX. The Cessna Citation Excel gave its first public appearance in Orlando. Cessna expects the certification in the summer of 1997 and deliveries are supposed to begin in January of 1998. The Citation Bravo is flying a little bit behind schedule. The Citation II successor was supposed to be certified in August of 1996. According to Cessna, new FAA regulations concerning icing tests are the reason for the delay. Furthermore, that the deliveries which were planned for January of 1997 will not be delayed. The past fiscal year was one of the best years in Cessna's company history. With 130 Citations delivered, the Wichita, Kansas, based manufacturer is at the top of the industry hit list. From page 30 of FLUG REVUE 1/97 See also the detailed statements of leading business aircraft manufacturer executives on their outlook for the industry! Home | Update | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles | FR 1/97 Copyright 1996 by Motor-Presse Stuttgart. All rights reserved. Last updated December 11, 1996