Focus Currently On Systems Configuration, Flight Controls
Adam Aircraft told ANN Wednesday of several important milestones
for the company's A700 AdamJet certification program. The first
fully conforming A700, Serial Number 003, joined the flight program
with its first flight on April 9, 2007. Since first flight, testing
has focused on the evaluation of the production configuration of
flight controls, landing gear system, avionics, and data
acquisition system used for flight testing.
"Since Serial Number 003 entered the flight program, the
aircraft has handled very well and all systems are performing as
expected," stated Adam Aircraft Flight Test Pilot Jeff Peer. "We
are working on air speed calibration and stability and control
effectiveness with different configurations throughout the flight
envelope. The three-screen Avidyne display has been particularly
impressive in providing a clear overview of the aircraft’s
performance, perspectives, and the aircraft is very reliable out of
the box."
In addition to Serial Number 003, two nonconforming prototypes
have completed more than 989 hours of risk-reduction testing. "We
learned a lot from the two prototypes and we are very pleased with
Jet 003."
Adam Aircraft reports S/N
003's all-carbon fiber design has met or exceeded its structural
design parameters. The aircraft has completed Ground Vibration
Testing (GVT), which is a necessary step in clearing the aircraft
for its full-speed operating envelope, including a maximum cruise
speed of 340 KTAS and maximum operating ceiling of 41,000 feet.
In support of flight test, Adam Aircraft is also conducting
full-scale static testing on several test articles and has
successfully completed more than 75 percent of the company tests.
Static testing for FAA requirements is currently 20 percent
complete and will conclude in 2007.
The fuselage, wing, and tail for Jet 004 have been mated, and
the aircraft will join the test program this summer, followed by
Jet 005 later this year. The last aircraft used in the
certification program, Jet 006, will be built to support the
Functional and Reliability (F&R) tests at the end of the flight
test program.
Following the conclusion of F&R tests, Adam expects to
obtain its A700 Type Certificate, with deliveries beginning in
2008. The A700 will be added to the Adam Aircraft Production
Certificate (PC) already in place for its facilities in Englewood
and Pueblo, CO and Ogden, UT in support of production of the A500
piston twin aircraft, which shares many of its components with the
AdamJet.