Just A Bit Further Than Last Time
by ANN Correspondent Chris Esposito
Aiming for certification in the first quarter of 2010, Comp Air
Inc. says its upcoming Comp Air 12 turboprop has generated
considerable interest in the aviation community.
With the ability to climb to altitudes as high as 29,000 feet
and cruise at 310 knots, the 12 packs an impressively powerful
Honeywell turbine that allows for a 2800 foot-per-minute climb at
gross weight. The Comp Air 12 is an all-composite aircraft and will
have seating for 8-10. With an estimated fuel burn of 71 gallons an
hour, maximum range will be an impressive 2,535 nautical miles.
The owner of Comp Air, Ron Lueck, is emphasizing the importance
of safety throughout the certification process. "It's very
personal. I'm the one building it, and I'm the one flying it," he
says.
Honeywell
representatives have been monitoring the engine, and working with
Comp Air to assure that safety is paramount. The current prototype
that will be flying to Oshkosh includes a liquid fire suppression
system in the engine compartment, a heat detection system using
FLIR technology, and SOAP testing every 50-100 hours to check on
engine wear.
The Honeywell TPE331-14GR engine provides 1,650 horsepower, and
requires an overhaul after an impressive 9000 hours. The Comp Air
12 will also include a fiber optic strain detector provided by
Micron Optics. The same technology used on Boeing's 787 Dreamliner,
the fiber optic health monitoring system will allow for the
structural integrity of the airframe to be assessed continuously.
This health monitoring system also includes vibration gauges and
strain sensors placed throughout the wing and stabs. Literally
hundreds of hours of data can be stored, so temperatures,
pressures, and vibrations can be monitored throughout the testing
process and any changes can be examined.
Certification for the Comp Air 12 is still a few years away...
and the company is currently seeking funding to build the Comp Air
12 production model. Power will stay the same, though the fuselage
will be 42" larger than the current version, and the horizontal
stabilizer will be integrated into the fuselage instead of being on
top of it. The size of the vertical stabilizer will also be
increased... because as one can imagine, the 1,650 horsepower
engine requires a lot of rudder.
Comp Air has been consulting with Downing Aviation Associates to
assist in the certification and funding process, and the eventual
goal is to produce 100 Comp Air 12's a year. Manufacturing of the
aircraft is likely to occur off-site from Comp Air's current
facility in Merritt Island, FL. While no deposits will be taken on
the aircraft until NBAA, Comp Air has many letters of intent from
prospective buyers. The new conforming aircraft will be started by
the end of 2007, with possible changes including a Honeywell Apex
avionics suite and a second door for the crew.
As with the plane's public unveiling at Lakeland earlier this
year, the Comp Air 12 will be flown to AirVenture by Lueck himself.
The 12 will be on display from July 23-29 at display #305/306, next
to Aeroshell Square.