Nextant 400XT: "New" At Half The Cost Of New By Russ Niles Nextant Aerospace says it's found the sweet spot between a good used airplane and a new one with its "remanufactured" version of the Beechjet, or Beech 400A or 400XP. The company says the original airframe, stripped of anything with a life limit (the airframe doesn't have a life limit) and rebuilt with all-new modern components represents one of the best bargains on the light jet market. At $4-5 million, depending on options, West Coast Director of Sales John Frevola said there is nothing on the new aircraft market that can touch it in terms of performance and range. During a demo flight at NBAA in Las Vegas he said the aircraft is faster, has more range and lower operating costs than new airplanes that cost twice as much. "This airplane is 88 percent new. The only thing that isn't is basically the airframe.
The HondaJet Delay By Glenn Pew Honda will delay until mid-2013 delivery of its HondaJet after a current test version of its GE Honda Aero HF120 engine suffered minor damage and a slight loss of thrust during an on-ground ice ingestion test, according to the company. The redesign work will push certification of the engine to late 2012 at the earliest, with full aircraft certification to follow. Honda says it expects a minimal impact on sales for the eight-person, $4.5 million business jet due to slow market conditions. In the U.S. there may be other unwelcome fallout as Honda Aircraft announced that expansion at its Greensboro, N.C., facility, which already employs roughly 600 employees, will take place more slowly now.
Cessna's Second New NBAA Airplane: Latitude By Russ Niles Cessna announced a second new design at NBAA 2011 in Las Vegas on Monday with a midsize bizjet that's between the XLS and Sovereign in size but different from both in terms of features. The Latitude was designed from the cabin out. It's large for its sector, offering a flat-floor standup (six foot) arrangement with seating for up to eight. It's 77 inches wide, the widest Cessna has ever built. It also has a full stand-up lav with sink and closet. "It's big enough to get changed in," said Cindy Halsey, who designed the cabin features. The aircraft has a 2,000-nm range and full-fuel payload of 1,000 pounds. First flight will be in 2014 and certification is planned for 2015. Price is $14.9 million.
Eclipse To Resume Production By Russ Niles Eclipse Aerospace says it's now taking orders for a new aircraft that will be based on the Eclipse 500 but offer some modern improvements. In a podcast interview at NBAA 2011 in Las Vegas, Eclipse President Mason Holland said the company hopes for first deliveries of the new Eclipse 550 in 2013 and the aircraft that's planned will set the standard for the tiny jet market. The 550 will boast an improved avionics package including auto throttles, synthetic vision, enhanced vision and a host of standard and optional improvements that will make it the most advanced light jet available. The new aircraft will sell for $2.695 million. The return to production has been made possible in large part through the partnership with Sikorsky Aircraft announced at last year's NBAA convention, which will have a key role in the resumption of production.
Embraer Inks 13-Jet Deal To China By Russ Niles Embraer announced an order for 13 Dynasty business jets at NBAA 2011 to China's Minsheng Financial Leasing. The company had earlier this year signed a deal for up to 20 Embraer jets and the Legacy 650 order is the first stage of what both companies say will be a lasting relationship. "We hold full confidence in the prospects for Embraer's Legacy 650 in the Chinese executive aviation market, which will surely attain increasing recognition from our customers here in China," said Kong Linshan, Chairman of Minsheng Financial Leasing. The first airplane will be delivered by the end of the year.
Restructured Cessna Stays Course By Russ Niles Cessna's new CEO is promising a "renewed focus on our propeller [aircraft] business" following a major restructuring of senior management. In his first public outing as CEO since taking over four months ago following the sudden retirement of Jack Pelton, Scott Ernest gave a generally upbeat overview of the company operations and future. In an exclusive podcast interview with AVweb, Ernest said the company will focus on its existing product line and gauge future investments according to customer demand and feedback. "We're going to continue to invest in our product," Ernest said. Among the targets for that investment could be alternative fuels aircraft in the piston line.
Big Bizjet Market Booms By Russ Niles Despite the general economic malaise, it's good to be Gulfstream these days. Speaking to reporters at the NBAA convention in Las Vegas on Sunday, the company's new President, Larry Flynn, said that the good times continue to roll in the big-cabin bizjet market and the future looks strong. "Businesses that were once regional are now global," Flynn said. "And their leaders need long-range transportation. They recognize Gulfstream as the leader in technology, performance and product support, and that has translated into strong sales." He said the order book is at $18 billion, including $400 million added in the second quarter of this year, and production backlog is in the "sweet spot" of 18-24 months for most models. The flagship G650 is nearing certification and will have a market niche virtually to itself for several years until Bombardier's new Global 7000 and 8000 models become available. Meanwhile, Honeywell has issued its 20th annual bizjet forecast and it's showing a little more optimism from its 2010 crystal-balling.
Sukhoi BizJet Lands Launch Customer, Comlux By Glenn Pew SuperJet Worldwide announced Sunday at the NBAA convention in Las Vegas that Comlux will be the launch customer for the $50 million Sukhoi Business Jet (SBJ), a version of the 100-seat Sukhoi Superjet 100. Comlux has ordered two of the fly-by-wire jets to be delivered in 2014, with options for two more. The SBJ can be built as an eight-passenger VIP transport with a 4,250-nm range. It is powered two SaM146 engines produced by Powerjet, a joint venture between Snecma and Russia's NPO Saturn. Comlux believes the jet will fill a niche between the Boeing Business Jet and Embraer Lineage 1000, a variant of the Embraer 190 regional jet. Comlux is also projecting a bullish sales outlook for the jet.
It takes a lot of work to put together a show as large and well-organized as the National Business Aviation Association's annual convention and conference. This year, NBAA pulled it off without a hitch in Atlanta, Georgia — and before we sign off and head home, here's a quick snapshot of the professionalism and effort that go into the static display area at the show (including shots of some of the show's most important airplanes).
PiperJet Now Bigger And Better-Looking By Russ Niles Piper went back to the drawing board with its single-engine PiperJet and the result is the Altaire. The new aircraft differs substantially from the proof-of-concept PiperJet and includes a redesigned fuselage that is substantially larger than the stretched Meridian body that served the original. The tail-mounted engine stays but the longer nacelle and reworked tail give the aircraft a sleeker appearance. Company Executive Vice President Randy Groom said the new aircraft is aimed at both the business and owner-pilot market and suggested larger versions of the aircraft are possible in the future. He declined to say whether future designs will have more engines.
