Rick Adam, CEO of Adam Aircraft, provided an update on the A700 very light jet program status for the press corps at AirVenture this week.

“The first two A700 prototypes have accumulated over 800 hours of risk-reduction testing,” he said. The interior has been upgraded to include higher-quality leather seats, new carpet, improved fit and finish around the windows and a relocated lavatory that provides more aft space in the cabin. Discussions are under way to partner with an international training provider, Adam said, and to provide a full-motion simulator in addition to the computer-based training developed for the A500.

Once the A700 very light jet is certified and starts production, Adam expects to turn them out at a rate of 10 or more per month. The company will announce its plans for international service centers at the NBAA Convention in October.

More information about The Adams Aircraft A700: www.adamaircraft.com.

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The Embraer Phenom 100, flew on Thursday for the first time. Aircraft number 99801 was airborne at 10:55 a.m., when Capt. Antonio Braganca Silva called out ‘rotate’ and pulled back the yoke.

“This is a key milestone for Embraer and a very special and rewarding moment for the entire Embraer team. To see our new baby bird taking off is highly satisfying and I congratulate every Embraer employee for making this possible.” remarked Frederico Fleury Curado, Embraer President and CEO.”When we unveiled the Phenom jets a little more than two years ago, we asserted to the business aviation community our commitment to be a long term player in the executive aviation market. The first flight of the Phenom 100 confirms this commitment and constitutes another step in Embraer’s strategy to serve our customers with a product line that spans the market.”

Upon deplaning from the Phenom 100, test pilots Capt. Antonio Bragança Silva and Capt. Eduardo Alves Menini, and flight test engineer Marcelo Toledo Basile, were satisfied with the maiden flight. “We had a successful first flight. All maneuvers and tests were performed as planned”, said Capt. Bragança. “We were very impressed with the Phenom 100 performance and flying characteristics, as well as the exceptional comfort and ergonomics of its cockpit design”. PP-XPH was flown for 1 hour and 36 minutes, and several maneuvers were performed to check the aircraft’s flight characteristics and systems operations. Members of all the engineering teams involved in the Phenom 100 program were on the ground, analyzing flight data and supporting the test crew on board the jet. The two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW617F engines with 1,615 pounds of thrust each powering the Phenom 100 operated flawlessly during the entire flight.

The first flight was preceded by several weeks of ground tests. The results confirmed the Phenom 100’s operations throughout ground vibration, flight control, low and high-speed taxiing, and systems functionality and integration tests. A full test program, including static and fatigue tests, will follow the maiden flight in order to obtain Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) certification, which will be followed by FAA certification, prior to entering service in mid-2008. EASA certification will be completed in the first semester of 2009.

The Phenom 100 was launched in May 2005, as a best-in-class executive jet in the very light category. The first metal cut of the Phenom 100 took place in May 2006, using a digital mock-up of the aircraft developed with CATIA V5 engineering software. Sub-assembly manufacturing of the Phenom 100 was carried out at the Company’s Botucatu
facility. Upon completion, fuselage and wings were delivered to Embraer’s main facilities in São José dos Campos. Last June 16, the jet was rolled out of the hangar, marking the conclusion of final assembly. A few days after the rollout, on June 21, the Phenom 100 was presented in brand colors for the first time.

The Phenom 100 and the Phenom 300 jets are best-in-class. Premium comfort, outstanding performance and low operating cost are key design drivers for these jets. Both aircraft will offer pilots and passengers the comfort and style previously unknown in their categories. The relaxing ambience is enhanced by the size of the generous windows and the most ample cabin in their class. Onboard conveniences include a wardrobe or refreshment center, an aft cabin private lavatory with toiletry cabinet, and optional in-flight entertainment systems. The pilot-friendly cockpit and the docile flying qualities of the two new aircraft will enable single-pilot operation. Drawing from Embraer’s design and engineering experience, the Phenom 100 and the Phenom 300 will be built for high utilization and availability. For added safety and reliability, both jets will offer a standard anti-skid brake-by-wire system.

Based on Garmin’s all-glass, fully-integrated avionics suite, the ProdigyTM flight deck offers Phenom jet operators more advantages than any other avionics suite on today’s market. The cockpit features three interchangeable 12-inch displays – two Primary Flight Displays (PFD) and one Multi-Function Display (MFD). The system integrates all primary flight, navigation, communication, terrain, traffic, weather, engine instrumentation, and crew-alerting system data and presents the composite information in brilliant, sunlight-readable color on three high-definition displays. The Phenom 100 will comfortably accommodate four passengers in a typical club configuration. The generous 55-cubic-foot (1.56-cubic-meter) total baggage capacity is big enough to store their luggage, golf bags and even skis. The jet is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW617F engines with 1,615 pounds of thrust each. Its range with four occupants will be 1,160 nautical miles (1,335 miles or 2,148 km) with NBAA IFR reserves, 35 minutes, and 100 nm alternate; or 1,320 nautical miles (1,519 miles or 2,445 km) with NBAA VFR reserves, 45 minutes. The aircraft is capable of flying at 41,000 feet (12,497 meters) at a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.70 and is designed for short-field takeoffs. These characteristics will allow customers to fly nonstop from New York to Miami; Paris to Athens; Sao Paulo to Buenos Aires; and Taipei to Tokyo at a lower cost than competitive aircraft, including turboprops.

The Phenom 100 is priced at US$ 2.98 million, based on January 2005 economic conditions for FAA certification and is expected to enter service in mid-2008.
The Phenom 300 jet will be configured to accommodate up to nine occupants. Its large 76 cubic feet (2.15 cubic meters) baggage capacity will conveniently transport passengers’ luggage, golf bags and skis. The jet is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW535E engines with 3,200 pounds of
thrust each. Its range with six occupants will be 1,800 nautical miles (3,334 km or 2,071 miles) with NBAA IFR reserves, 35 minutes and 100 nm alternate. The aircraft is capable of flying at 45,000 feet (13,716 meters) at a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.78 and is also designed for short-field takeoffs. These capabilities will permit customers to fly nonstop from Los Angeles to Atlanta; London to Moscow; Sao Paulo to Santiago; and Bangkok to Shanghai at a lower cost than competitive aircraft.
The Phenom 300 is expected to enter service in mid-2009 and is priced at US$ 6.65 million, based on January 2005 economic conditions, for FAA certification.

More information about Embraer Executive Jets: www.EmbraerExecutiveJets.com.

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Eclipse Aviation surprised media this week when the company founder Vern Raburn taxied up to the Eclipse tent at Oshkosh this week during a press conference in the new Eclipse ECJ—the concept jet.

The single-engine four-place jet features a dramatically swept V-tail with the engine sitting on top of the aft fuselage. Raburn said the concept airplane is just that; the unveiling was not a product announcement or decision to move forward, but simply the company testing the market for its reaction to such an airplane.

The ECJ has about 27 flight hours on it, including flight up to 25,000 feet and 250 knots. It was built in secret at the NASA Wallops Island facility in Virginia by a team of engineering companies selected by Eclipse. Market feedback will determine whether the ECJ—or something like it—becomes a reality.

For more information about the Eclipse Single Engine Concept Jet, click http://www.eclipseconceptjet.com/.

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Honda has announced plans to enter the innovative HondaJet in the growing very light jet market, with the process of accepting sales orders expected to begin in the U.S. in fall 2006. Toward this goal, Honda will establish a new U.S. company to hold FAA type certification and production certification. Honda’s goal is to complete type certification in about 3-4 years, followed by the start of production in the U.S.

Making the announcement at the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture 2006, the world’s largest annual aviation gathering, Honda also revealed plans to form a business alliance with Piper Aircraft, Inc. to collaborate on sales and service, and to explore opportunities in engineering and other areas within general and business aviation.

Honda and Piper will provide a new level of sales and service to meet the needs of jet customers with the goal of setting a higher standard for the quality of the ownership experience. No specific details regarding additional collaboration were announced.

“Aviation has been an important dream of Honda for more than four decades,” said Satoshi Toshida, senior managing director of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. “Our goal is consistent with the philosophy of other Honda products — to provide convenient and efficient transportation that will make people’s lives better. We are excited now to enter a new dimension of mobility.”

“In Piper we believe we have a partner we can collaborate with in our effort to bring new value to customers in the very light jet market,” said Toshida.

“Honda is a company with a rich heritage of bringing high quality, innovative products to market,” said James K. Bass, president and CEO of Piper Aircraft, Inc. “This business alliance is a perfect fit given the commitment both Piper and Honda have to providing our respective customers with world class products and services. Piper is very excited about this alliance and the way it complements our vision for the future.”

HondaJet features several innovations that help it achieve far better fuel efficiency, larger cabin and luggage space and higher cruise speed than conventional aircraft in its class. The announcement to commercialize HondaJet comes one year after the plane made its world public debut at EAA AirVenture 2005 in Oshkosh, Wis.

The result of 20 years of aviation research, key HondaJet innovations include a patented over-the-wing engine-mount configuration, a natural-laminar flow (NLF) wing and fuselage nose, and an advanced all-composite fuselage structure.

“We want to create new value within the aviation market through the unique new design of HondaJet,” said Michimasa Fujino, HondaJet project leader and vice president of Honda R&D Americas, Inc. “Our goal is to deliver three key attributes - performance, quality and comfort - beyond what people currently expect from light business jets.”

HondaJet’s NLF wing and NLF fuselage nose were developed through extensive analyses and wind-tunnel testing. These designs help HondaJet achieve low drag. HondaJet’s patented over-the-wing engine-mount configuration helps eliminate the need for a structure to mount the engines to the rear fuselage, maximizing space in the fuselage for passengers and luggage. Further, by determining the optimal position for the engines, the over-the-wing mount actually reduces drag at high speed to improve fuel efficiency.

The advanced all-composite fuselage structure consists of a combination of honeycomb sandwich structure and co-cured stiffened panels. It was developed to reduce weight and manufacturing costs. This aircraft is also outfitted with a state-of-the-art all-glass flight deck with an integrated avionics system that displays all information digitally on a high resolution flat display, and also has an autopilot function.

To date the prototype six-to-seven seat HondaJet has completed more than 240 hours of flight-testing since December 2003. So far, the prototype HondaJet has achieved an altitude of 43,000 feet and a speed of 412 knots and is on course to meet or exceed all of its design specifications.

Piper Aircraft, Inc., headquartered in Vero Beach, Fla., is the only general aviation manufacturer to offer a complete line of aircraft for every general aviation mission, from trainers and high-performance aircraft for personal and business use to turbine-powered business aircraft. In its 70-year history, Piper has produced more than 144,000 aircraft and developed more than 180 different models. Piper covers the global marketplace with 80 sales and service centers worldwide.

Honda is one of the world’s leading producers of mobility products including its diverse line-up of automobiles, motorcycles and ATVs, power products, marine engines and personal watercraft. Honda is the world’s preeminent engine-maker, with annual worldwide production of more than 20 million engines. On a global basis, Honda has more than 130 manufacturing facilities in 29 nations.

Honda began operations in North America in 1959 with the establishment of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Honda’s first overseas subsidiary. Honda began assembling motorcycles in America in 1979, with U.S. automobile manufacturing starting in 1982. Honda now employs more than 28,000 Americans in the design, manufacture and marketing of its products in America. Honda currently builds products in 13 manufacturing plants in North America, with three major R&D centers in the U.S.

For more information, and for access to HondaJet photography and video footage, please go to hondanews.com. For additional information on HondaJet, please go to http://world.honda.com/hondajet.

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Embraer is currently performing the ground tests for the Phenom 100 very light jet, in preparation for its first flight (at left: Phenom 100 Vibration Test).

Progress is steady as engineering teams confirm the design quality of the aircraft and test the functionalities and integration of its systems.

“The Phenom 100 test campaign has begun and steadily advances,” said Alexandre Figueiredo, Embraer Senior Manager, Phenom Programs. “The ground tests prepare the aircraft for its first flight and provide results for the certification process, which is scheduled to be completed in mid-2008.”

These tests are an integral part of the quality program that focuses on delivering to customers an aircraft with excellent performance and high availability. The first test conducted was the engine run, when the Phenom’s engines were powered up after being mounted on the aircraft. They had already been thoroughly tested at Pratt & Whitney Canada’s facilities in Canada, and flown on its test-bed aircraft.

The Ground Vibration Test (GVT) is being conducted, with the objective of validating the aero-elastic model of the aircraft. During the test, the aircraft is suspended with elastic cables in order to float as if in flight. Flight controls will be tested for flexibility, validating the primary control systems. The entire circuit of cables and brackets will be tested with a full surface load on the ailerons, rudder and elevator, confirming attrition and deflection conditions and no jamming.

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