Seawind Pulling the Plug?

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Seawind Aircraft has written at least some of its business associates to say that the company is closing and there will be no resumption of the long effort to certify the unique amphib. As AVweb reported last month, the Seawind certification test aircraft crashed during a test flight near Winnipeg, Manitoba. Glenn Holmes, the experienced and well-known Canadian test pilot, died in the crash. Canadian authorities are still investigating. Early indications from Seawind President Dick Silva were that the project would resume after results of the investigation were known; the company’s Web site still says that and has job opportunities listed. However, a Sept. 7 letter sent to some businesses associated with Seawind paints a much different picture. We were unable to reach Silva for comment.

In the letter, Silva says financial backers pulled out after the crash. “The financing negotiations needed to complete the project were terminated and, as a result, the factory [in St. Jean sur Richelieu, Quebec] has been closed,” he wrote. Silva also says the Kimberton, Pa., head office is also being wound up. “I regret the project cannot go forward. We had hoped for a long and prosperous relationship,” he wrote.

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