Evektor EV-55

Czech aircraft manufacturer[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] is gearing up to roll out the first EV-55 Outback twin-engined turboprop on 30 March from its base in Kunovice and says it is "pretty confident" the 14-seat utility aircraft will make its first flight in the third quarter of 2010.

The privately owned company says three aircraft will be involved in the three-year flight-test programme and is aiming for European safety administration certification at the end of 2013.

"The first aircraft will be delivered at the beginning of 2014 if the certification process goes smoothly and without unexpected delays," says Evektor.

The company, which also makes the Eurostar, SportStar and VUT100 Cobra light aircraft, says its has received " strong and positive feedback from the market" to the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-21-powered EV-55 and will begin taking orders for the aircraft following its maiden flight.

The EV-55 - development of which is being partially funded by the Czech government - is targeted at small commercial operators based in countries where the transport infrastructure is underdeveloped.

"This kind of operator needs efficient and sturdy aircraft which is able to operate from unpaved runways and which is inexpensive to operate and maintain," says Evektor.

The prototype EV-55 will be built in Kunovice, but Evektor says serial production may be based "outside Europe".

The company is seeking investors to help secure the necessary finance to launch serial production.

[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] is gearing up fly its first EV-55 Outback twin turboprop this quarter, kicking off a three-year certification programme with first deliveries scheduled to begin at the end of 2012.

"Installation of the hydraulic system is complete and we have pressurised it for the first time," says Evektor marketing manager Petr Grebeníček.

"We have also tested the landing gear [extension, retraction, nose wheel steering] as well as flaps and brakes.

The hydraulic systems are performing well."

The nine-seat, Pratt & Whitney PT6A-21-powered aircraft - which was rolled out from Evektor's Kunovice base in late March - is targeted at the large piston-twin utility replacement market in Africa, Asia, Australia, Latin America and North America, including the ageing [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and Piper PA-31 Navajo or Chieftain.

Evektor says the EV-55 has been "well received" by operators but it will not open the orderbook until the first flight is complete.

Evektor says the EV-55 has the edge on its competitors in terms of its take-off and landing capabilities (420m/1,380ft even in hot and high conditions), its 12.7m3 (450ft3) cabin and baggage compartment and its 220kt (410km/h) top speed.

The company says its has received interest from potential investors from inside and outside the Czech Republic to help it fund the programme up to certification and first deliveries.

Evektor plans to eventually produce up to 50 EV-55s a year.
Meanwhile, Aircraft 002 is in production and will be used for stress tests while 003 will be the conforming aircraft for certification.