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August 20, 2008
By The AVweb Editorial Staff
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In Print & Online, Trade-A-Plane Has Everything That Keeps You Flying
Get 24 issues (two years) for just $24.95 (U.S., standard mail), including no-cost access to Trade-A-Plane's web site, which is updated daily. Subscribe by calling (800) 337-5263
and mentioning this AVwebFlash, or
subscribe
online. 
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 Grob Aerospace unexpectedly filed for insolvency on Tuesday after its lead lender pulled out. In a statement, CEO Niall Olver said he hopes the situation is temporary
as the company scrambles to find new money to finish certification of its SPn business jet. "I am sure that 37 years of pioneering composite aircraft manufacturing will survive," Olver said. "The
company spirit, the support we have received from employees, suppliers, customers, fellow stakeholders and the media demonstrates a significant interest in Grob remaining in business as a civil and
military training aircraft manufacturer." The decision by the unidentified lender came 10 days after the first flight of the fourth certification test aircraft and, according to Olver, was motivated
by increasing cash demands caused by delays in the certification program. Bombardier Aerospace says it doesn't expect the news to affect development of the Lear 85 business jet, in which Grob is
playing a major role.
Grob is building the prototype of Bombardier's first composite aircraft and spokesman Leo Knappen told AVweb the program will continue without interruption. "Grob will continue to operate
under the supervision of the insolvency administrator and we're developing the program as scheduled," Knappen said. "We're fully committed to this program." Bombardier will unveil a mock-up of the
Lear 85 at the National Business Aviation Association convention in Orlando in early October.
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Fly With Bose® Aviation Headset X™
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Quotes reprinted with permission: Professional Pilot, 2007 Headset Preference Survey, 12/07; Aviation Consumer, 8/07.
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General Dynamics Staking Bigger Claim in
BizAv |
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Gulfstream Aerospace parent company General Dynamics is expanding its stake in the business aviation industry with the purchase of Swiss-based Jet Aviation. General Dynamics paid $2.3 billion USD for
the rapidly expanding service, repair and charter company. "Through General Dynamics' acquisition of this strong and rapidly growing organization, we will expand our participation in the
business-aviation industry well beyond that of our current operations," company Chairman Nicholas Chabraja said in a statement.
Jet Aviation has facilities at 25 airports in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas. It's been on a growth spurt recently and Gulfstream jets make up a significant portion of its fleet of
mid- and large-size bizjets. Jet Aviation was privately held by Permira Funds. Gulfstream is a relatively small component of General Dynamics, which is a major defense contractor, but its recent
growth has clearly caught corner-office attention. Gulfstream's backlog has more than doubled in the last year to $18 billion.
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JA Air Center, Your Garmin Source
GPSMap 495 and 496 have AOPA Directory and terrain. 496 includes automotive directions and XM weather and music. Have an old GPS? Do not let it lose its value! Call (800)
323-5966 for the current value.
JA Air Center [Dupage Airport (KDPA), West Chicago, IL] provides the finest avionics installations, turbine/piston maintenance, avionics/instrument service, mail order, and aircraft sales.
Call (800) 323-5966, or
click for more
information. 
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Eclipse Aviation is inviting representatives from all its suppliers to a meeting in Albuquerque next week to discuss its plans for the future. Eclipse spokeswoman Alana McCarraher said the letter went
out Monday and didn't include any insight into what those plans might be. "We haven't made any of those decisions yet," she said, noting that the supplier conference will help in forming the strategy.
However, at least one supplier, Albany International, which makes composite components for the EA500 very light jet, has commented publicly that it expects a sharp reduction in orders from
Eclipse.
According to The Business Review in Albany, N.Y., Susan Siegel, a spokeswoman for the company, said
that Eclipse is "substantially reducing" orders of components and it's expected to hurt Albany International's bottom line. Siegel said the reduced orders are expected to last for about a year. She
said she stood by her story but declined to comment further about Eclipse's assertion that no decision on production cuts has been made.
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A Repeat Performance Sure to Evoke a Soaring Ovation
No one knows Citations better than Cessna. So, it just makes sense to buy a pre-owned Citation from the company that builds them. You can even select one of Cessna's
pre-owned ValuePlus Citations, which have been restored to new-aircraft standards. Get the pre-owned peace of mind that only comes from the most trusted name in aviation. Choose Cessna
pre-owned.
For complete
details, go online. 
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Starfish Aviation to Assemble Spectrum
Fleet |
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Spectrum Aerospace has announced it has reached a deal to supply an undisclosed number of S-40 and S-33 aircraft to Starfish Aviation, of Northbrook, Ill., for an undisclosed amount of money.
Spectrum President Austin Blue says both companies have policies against releasing financial details but he did say the order was worth in the "nine-figure range" so it must be more than $100 million.
Starfish President Ken Ross said the combination of utility and the projected economy of the Spectrum jets is what attracted his company.
The eight-passenger S-40 will use the GE/Honda HF-120 engine, which the company has said will be up to 30 percent more efficient than other engines with its performance. The S-40 is slated for
certification in late 2009. The seven-passenger S-33 has Williams FJ33 engines and is scheduled for certification in 2010. Spectrum says the lightweight carbon and epoxy composite used in construction
will result in a 40-percent weight reduction over similar-sized aircraft.
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Aircraft Financing to Fit Your Needs
AirFleet Capital offers a competitive and experienced approach to each and every loan program by focusing exclusively on aircraft financing. AirFleet Capital provides exceptional terms
coupled with personal service and a long-term commitment to support the business and shared passion of aviation. From Light Sport Aircraft to VLJs and Business Jets, AirFleet Capital has a
loan program to fit your needs. Call an AirFleet Capital financing specialist at (800) 390-4324, or
request a quote
online. 
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Winnipeg-based Standard Aero has earned a Supplemental Type Certificate to remove Pratt and Whitney Canada (P&WC) PT6A-41 engines from Beech King Air 200 models and replace them with modern, more fuel
efficient PT6A-42 engines. In many ways the classic King Airs and the original PT6 models created a new class of aircraft but they're due for an upgrade, "PT6A-41 engines have been in service for more
than 35 years, many of which are approaching their third and fourth overhaul," said Standard Aero's spokesman Manny Atwal.
It's getting more expensive to overhaul the old engines and Atwal said it costs only a little more to put the new engines, with their better performance and efficiency, on instead. With the new
engines, Standard Aero says the King Air 200 will cruise at 290 knots at 24,000 feet. No airframe modifications are required.
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Precise Flight: Hidden in Plain Sight
With design capabilities as varied as the number of aircraft models available, it's easy to find at least one device manufactured by Precise Flight in the cabin, cockpit, or body of any
aircraft on the market. In fact, integration is a key characteristic of Precise Flight's operating code.
Learn more
online. 
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All eyes are on Russia and its former Soviet sister nations this week — and that has to be giving pause to some Western aviation companies that have strong ties to the Russian market.
AVweb Editor-in-Chief Russ Niles ponders what may be going through the minds of some major players in the industry in the latest installment of our AVweb Insider blog.
Read more.
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"A Celebration"
Celebrating their 45th anniversary this September, the National Championship Air Races are the last head-to-head air racing event left on Earth and are the favorite among aviation enthusiasts,
worldwide. The event features six high-speed racing classes and a static aircraft show, and this year the USAF Thunderbirds and F-22 Demonstration Team will highlight a fleet of
world-class aviation demonstrations. For more information on the National Championship Air Races or to purchase tickets, call (775) 972-6633, or
visit
AirRace.org. 
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Tom Neufelder has been named Avidyne's new VP of Engineering. Neufelder came to Avidyne from General Electric where he was VP and General Manager for Independent Practice Engineering developing
electronic medical record and practice systems for doctors.
Flight Options has named Jay Heublein as vice president of sales and marketing. He started his aviation career with Flight Options as a regional sales director and went to a competitor in a similar
role before being attracted back.
Get a promotion or a new job? Your colleagues want to know about it, and AVwebBiz can get the word out. Drop us a line about the staff
appointment, with a nice recent photo, and we'll do our best to include it in our new section, "Who's Where." The items will be permanently archived on AVweb for future reference,
too.
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Diamond DA40 XL Demonstrator Sale
For a limited time only, while quantities last, Diamond DA40 XL Demonstrator models are available at a special price of $299,950. The aircraft also qualify
for special 2008 tax incentives. You can enjoy owning a Diamond DA40 and write off up to 93% of the purchase price.
Visit Diamond
Aircraft now for more information. 
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The Top Reporter on Our Crack Staff ... Is
You! |
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 Our best stories start with you. If you've heard something 200,000 pilots might want to know about, tell us. Submit news tips
via email to newstips@avweb.com. You're a part of our team ... often, the best part.
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AVwebBiz is a weekly summary of the latest business aviation news, articles, products, features, and events featured on AVweb, the internet's aviation magazine and news service.
The AVwebBiz team is:
Publisher
Timothy Cole
Editorial Director, Aviation Publications
Paul Bertorelli
Editor-in-Chief
Russ Niles
Contributing Editors
Mary Grady
Glenn Pew
Features Editor
Kevin Lane-Cummings
Webmaster
Scott Simmons
Contributors
Mariano Rosales
Jeff van West
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