NBAA 2010 Is But Days Away, Let's Look Back At NBAA 2009
Til Then...
The 2010 version of the National Business Aircraft Association
is but a few days away and ANN is already packing up gear for our
Aero-TV and editorial teams in order to make the trek North to
'Hotlanta.' NBAA2010 will feature hundreds of exhibits at
the Georgia World Congress Center, a Static Display of
Aircraft on DeKalb Peachtree Airport, over 100 Education Sessions
and Maintenance and Operations Sessions (M&Os), and nearly
25,000 business aviation professionals who are interested in seeing
and learning about all that is new in the world of business
aviation.
Since it's still a few days away, let's take a look back at a
few of the highlights of NBAA 2009!
It was the "Great Reveal..." Gulfstream Aerospace rolled out its
new flagship business jet, the all-new Gulfstream G650, at company
headquarters in Savannah just a few weeks short of the start of
NBAA 2009. The aircraft rolled out under its own power. First
announced in March 2008, the ultra-large-cabin, ultra-long-range
G650 remains on schedule for customer deliveries in 2012.
Approximately 7,000 people gathered at the new G650
manufacturing building for the aircraft’s debut. The audience
included state and local dignitaries, customers, certifying
authorities, supplier representatives, members of the G650
development team and many other employees at the Savannah
facility.
“We’ve all been looking forward to this day since we
officially announced the G650 program last year,” said Joe
Lombardo, executive vice president, General Dynamics Aerospace
group. “Simply put, the Gulfstream G650 is in a class by
itself. I want to thank everyone who made this aircraft possible. I
share the tremendous amount of pride you have for this significant
piece of aviation history. Like you, I am eagerly awaiting the
first flight later this year.”
The G650 offers the longest range, fastest speed, largest cabin
and the most advanced cockpit in the Gulfstream fleet. It features
an all-new fuselage cross section, the first from Gulfstream since
the G2, allowing a wider and taller cabin than the previous
top-of-the-line G550 model. The G650 is capable of traveling 7,000
nautical miles at 0.85 Mach and has a maximum operating speed of
0.925, which will make it the fastest civil aircraft flying.
It can climb to an altitude of 51,000 feet, which allows it to
avoid traffic and inclement weather. The aircraft is on schedule
for first flight later this year and is expected to be certified in
2011. Entry-into-service is planned for 2012.
*************************
As Garmin's G1000 FlightDeck took hold amongst the GA world, a
popular topic of conjecture surrounded the question of whether or
not this platform would be expanded to serve the Turbine market...
or whether Garmin would come up with something completely
different. We now have our answer.
Under great secrecy and threats of bodily harm from Garmin's
Jessica "The Enforcer" Myers, ANN got an embargoed first look at a
working prototype of Garmin's very new, very aggressively designed
G3000 "Next Generation" Turbine FlightDeck and had a chance to
"fly" it some in Garmin's development labs.
While the overall design is REALLY new, this is a program that
leverages the best of Garmin's expertise in a number of
disciplines... panning the full gamut of their aviation product
line as well as the expertise they have developed in consumer
products... especially Touch-Screen technologies.
Garmin's G3000 is the first touchscreen-controlled integrated
FlightDeck for light turbine aircraft. The G3000 is designed
specifically for Part 23 turbine aircraft, and we're pleased to
offer you the FIRST LOOK at this truly innovative system on
Aero-TV.
*************************
One of aviation's oldest and most productive companies is
holding its head high despite the economic malaise that has struck
the nation... along with some truly dunderheaded moves by the
Washington Elite... who victimized business aviation unfairly and
with great fanfare.
But Business Aviation is staying alive and doing its best to
defend its powerful value to th nation... a fight that was led, in
large part, by Cessna's willingness to confront Washington and the
media to PROVE that Business Aviation is one of the valued players
in keeping business alive, thousands of people employed and our
commerce moving along as competitively as possible.
During a press conference at NBAA 2009, Cessna Boss Jack Pelton
talked about Cessna's efforts to deal with today's market while
maintaining extensive R&D efforts including the
development of the Citation CJ4, as well as the Cessna SkyCatcher.
Pelton's commitment is so strong to that program, by the way, that
Pelton noted that he personally flew the new Cessna LSA and spun it
himself in order to assure that their new entry-level aircraft was
what he promised at Oshkosh a few years ago.
Check out this and other topics as ANN spends a few minutes with
Cessna's CEO, President (and Part-Time Test Pilot) Jack
Pelton.
*************************
You can NOT look at a Piaggio Aero Avanti II and NOT respond to
the ultra-exotic looks that are (possibly) the most striking aspect
of this speedy, accomplished turboprop -- a design that is actually
speedier than many light jets.
The Piaggio Aero P.180 Avanti II's beauty is not skin deep. The
Avanti II requires 33% less fuel than most twin turboprops while
offering a true stand-up cabin size that competes favorably with
larger jet aircraft. The Avanti II also boasts the ability to
cruise at speeds more than 400 KTAS, while also offering an
uncommonly quiet cabin. In addition to all that, the P.180 Avanti
II has a range of 1500 nautical miles, as well as a maximum
cruising altitude of 41,000 feet. The aircraft is licensed to
operate with a single pilot and can accommodate up to nine
passengers.
Piaggio Aero had the honor, during NBAA 2009, of delivering a
number of new Avanti IIs to leading fractional aircraft operator,
Avantair, bringing their total Avanti fleet to an impressive 55
airplanes. Avantair is headquartered in Clearwater, FL, with over
400 employees and offers private travel solutions for individuals
and businesses traveling within its service area, which includes
the continental United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico, at
a fraction of the cost of whole aircraft ownership. Avantair has
another 53 Piaggio Avanti aircraft on order through 2013.
ANN had the chance to chat with Piaggio Aero’s CEO Alberto
Galassi about his plans for 2010 and beyond.
ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (04.16.24)
See All