Spectrum 33 Twinjet Makes Second and Third Test Flights
MicroLightJets.com News
Spanish Fork, Utah–February 2, 2006—— Spectrum Aeronautical’s new
Spectrum 33 light twinjet made additional flight tests on Thursday, February
2, 2006 with two flights which together lasted a minute or two shy of an
hour.The day began with steady rain, 500 ft ceilings, and a dropping
barometer, but an unexpected late afternoon break in the weather allowed
Bill Davies, Spectrum’s veteran Chief Test Pilot and Ian Hollingsworth,
second-in-command to complete the hoped for flights.
The new tests followed improvements and adjustments to some of the
aircraft’s systems that were made after its first flight on January 7th.
Davies said the 33 felt solid in longitudinal control, and exhibited
excellent yaw characteristics during turns. “We were able to conduct shallow
coordinated turns with rudder input alone,” he said, “and saw excellent
control in all axes.” He noted that the Spectrum 33’s takeoff acceleration
and climb performance “is well beyond anything I’ve seen in this class of
aircraft.”
“Takeoff distances for the flights were less than 800 feet,” Davies
commented, “and touch-down speeds were 85 knots with 15 degrees of flaps.”
“Control during flap deployment required only minor changes in trim, and the
ability to hold nose-up attitude during landing was excellent.” He added
that “the tests are confirming that the 33 is highly stable, docile and easy
to fly for single-pilot operations.”
Linden Blue, Spectrum Aeronautical’s founder and CEO, said he was pleased
with the outcome of the flights. “These results are further confirmation
that the Spectrum 33 is capable of performing a wide range of multi-role
missions, and will benefit a broad segment of the market.”
The Spectrum 33 is a new light business jet that’s built using
carbon-graphite construction that gives it virtually the same size cabin as
popular eight to nine seat light business jets, at less than two-thirds the
weight. It’s designed to cruise at FL450 at speeds up to 415 knots [477 mph]
and fly as far as 2000 nautical miles while using about half the fuel of
comparably sized current production aircraft.
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