Business and General Aviation 2016 Highlights

In January, Dorner Seawings selected Diamond Aircraft Industries’ Canadian operation to manufacture the all-composite airframe for the Seastar amphibian. Deliveries of the 12-seat twin-turboprop, first flown in 1984 and certificated in 2011, are planned to begin in 2018.

Czech manufacturer Evektor has flown the first production-conforming EV-55 Outback twin-turboprop. The first prototype of the nine-passenger utility aircraft flew in 2011. Evektor has not announced a certification target date.

Austria’s Diamond Aircraft Industries flew the DART-450 turboprop civil/military trainer/surveillance aircraft on May 17. Powered by a 500-shp Ukrainian Motor Sich AI-450, the all-composite aerobatic aircraft is equipped with Garmin avionics and pneumatic ejection seats.

China’s Avic rolled out the AG600 amphibian in Zuhai on July 22. Targeted at the search-and-rescue and transport markets, the four-turboprop aircraft has an endurance of 12 hr., range of 2,800 nm and can carry 50 passengers. First flight is planned for 2017.

Textron Aviation unveiled its single-engine turboprop—the Cessna Denali—as a direct competitor for the popular Pilatus PC-12. First flight is expected in 2018. Design targets for the General Electric Advance Turboprop-powered aircraft are a 285-kt. cruise and 1,600-nm range with a pilot and four passengers.

Tecnam’s P2012 Traveler commuter aircraft made its first flight July 21 from Capua, Italy. U.S. commuter airline Cape Air has a letter of intent to buy the 11-seat piston twin to replace its fleet of 83 Cessna 402Cs. The P2012 is powered by digitally controlled, fuel-injected Lycoming TEO-540-C1As.

The first Falcon 8X was delivered to Greek charter operator Amjet on Oct. 5, marking the service entry of Dassault Aviation’s new ultra-long-range flagship. The 8X is a stretch of the clean-sheet Falcon 7X, with a longer cabin, longer range and uprated Pratt & Whitney Canada PW307D turbofans.

Cirrus has received FAA certification for the SF50 Vision Jet, the first single-engine personal jet to enter series production, with deliveries to begin by year-end. Cirrus holds more than 600 orders and deposits for the seven-seat personal jet, which is powered by an 1,800-lb.-thrust Williams FJ33-5A.

Cessna’s Citation Longitude super mid-size business jet made its first flight on Oct. 8. Powered by Honeywell HTF7700L engines, the 3,400-nm-range aircraft is scheduled to enter service in late 2017. Deliveries of the mid-size, 2,850-nm-range Citation Latitude began in June.

Boeing introduced the BBJ MAX 7 business jet version of the 737 MAX airliner in October, for delivery beginning in 2022. Based on the heavier structure of a shortened MAX 8, the aircraft has a 76-in.-longer cabin and a 7,000-nm range providing long-sought Dubai-New York capability.

In October, Bombardier completed the sale of its amphibious aircraft program to British Columbia-based Viking Air. The deal includes type certificates for the Bombardier 415 waterbomber as well as the earlier piston-powered CL-215, turboprop-reengined CL-215T.

Bombardier’s ultra-large-cabin, ultra-long-range Global 7000 made its first flight on Nov. 4. Retaining the cabin cross-section of the Global 5000/6000, the 7000 is stretched, and introduces a new wing, General Electric Passport engines and fly-by-wire flight controls. Range is 7,400 nm at Mach 0.85.

Startup Stratos Aircraft flew its four-seat personal aircraft for the first time from Redmond, Oregon, on Nov. 21. Powered by a single Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-5, the proof-of-concept Stratos 714 made an initial 10-min. shakedown flight.