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Adam Aircraft Extends Flight Capabilities |
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Wednesday, 18 October 2006 |
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Adam Aircraft today announced it has achieved a major milestone in receiving an amended FAR Part 23 Type Certificate (TC) from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the all-composite A500 pressurized centerline twin-engine aircraft. The six-seat Adam A500 has been designed and developed with 21st-century materials and state-of-the-art engineering techniques to become the industry leader in performance, safety, and reliability in the in the twin-engine piston category in the twin-engine piston category.
This Type Certification marks the first-ever Day/Night VFR/IFR certification for a new-technology, all-composite, pressurized, twin-engine aircraft. The last new pressurized twin-engine airplane was manufactured in 1986. "The A500 is the only pressurized twin-engine piston aircraft in production today," said Rick Adam, founder and CEO of Adam Aircraft. "Our customers benefit from our elegant carbon-fiber construction and the safety of our twin in-line thrust engines. The A500 is an excellent step-up airplane for the thousands of owners of new-generation single-engine aircraft." The A500 is now certified to its full 5.5 psi pressurization, which provides a sea-level cabin to 12,500 ft. Additional certified upgrades include a fully coupled IFR autopilot, Day/Night VFR/IFR, single-pilot flight operation, leading-edge cuffs to improve low-speed handling characteristics, and an expanded CG range. Maximum operating altitude expansion to 25,000 ft. will occur this winter concurrent with de-icing certification. Final performance numbers will include a 230-knot cruise speed and a more-than 1,100 nm NBAA IFR range at 75% power. "This is the most capable twin-engine piston aircraft available in the marketplace today" said Joe Walker, President of Adam Aircraft. "No other aircraft in this segment comes close to the performance, the comfort of the largest pressurized cabin in its class, and the amenities that the A500 provides. Our customers have recognized this outstanding value, and as a result we have a-two-year backlog of orders to fill." With the recently awarded FAA Production Certificate in hand, the A500 production line will continue to accelerate to meet this pent-up demand for a safe and reliable pressurized piston twin. A500 Serial Number 008 is currently undergoing its final flight checks for an October delivery, and Serial Numbers 009 through 024 are on the production line. Adam Aircraft is the only company in this class to have a dedicated customer support aircraft on a 24/7 basis, and the A500 is backed by the Adam Aircraft guaranteed operating cost program. More than 20 A500 Authorized Service Centers nationwide provide a world-class customer experience to ensure the highest degree of dispatch reliability. A500 pilot training is conducted in-house using the FAA Industry Training Standards (FITS) program and additional performance-based curriculum. All A500 owners who have taken delivery of their aircraft to date have completed their training with exceptional results, and are extremely satisfied with their aircraft. Adam Aircraft is a designer and manufacturer of advanced aircraft for civil and government markets. The company uses computer-aided design, rapid prototyping, advanced manufacturing techniques, and carbon composite materials to produce high-performance aircraft at attractive prices. The A500 twin-engine piston aircraft has been Type Certified by the FAA, and the A700 AdamJet is currently undergoing flight test and development. The company’s largest outside investor is Goldman Sachs. Adam Aircraft headquarters are based on Centennial Airport (APA) in Englewood, Colorado, with additional facilities in Pueblo, Colorado, and Ogden, Utah. |
