Schlagwort-Archive: textron

U.S. Navy chooses METS for King Air 260

Textron Aviation announced, that it has been awarded the Multi-Engine Training System (METS) contract by Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) through a full and open competition. The contract award is for up to 64 King Air 260 aircraft, which will be known as the T-54A. The initial Lot I award will procure 10 new Beechcraft King Air 260 commercial aircraft and associated support. Lot II and Lot III, if the options are exercised, would each procure up to 27 aircraft. Aircraft deliveries are planned from 2024 to 2026. The Beechcraft King Air 260 aircraft acquired under the METS contract will replace the Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) fleet of T-44C Pegasus aircraft. The T-44C Pegasus aircraft is a variant of the twin-engine and pressurized Beechcraft King Air 90. The T-44 has been in service since 1977.

METS-specific capabilities include factory options for TACAN (Air to Air), angle of attack (AOA), V/UHF radio, digital audio system, engine trend monitoring, condition-based maintenance plus, observer/jump seat, passenger mission seats, and full-face oxygen masks. “With its advanced technology, the new METS platform will be more representative of fleet aircraft,” said Capt. Holly Shoger, Naval Undergraduate Flight Training Systems Program Office (PMA-273) program manager. “The T-54A will include an updated avionics suite, automation qualities, and virtual reality and augmented reality devices to better prepare students for the advanced aircraft they will fly in the fleet.” The King Air 260 METS aircraft will be delivered in a fully compliant, METS mission-ready configuration from Textron Aviation’s King Air production line in Wichita, Kansas. Source: ‚Textron‚ (Cessna, Beechcraft).

Tunisian Air Force buys T-6C Texan II

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Textron Aviation Defense announced the delivery of the first Beechcraft T-6C Texan II Integrated Training System to the Tunisian Air Force in support of operations at No. 13 Squadron at Sfax Air Base in Tunisia. The Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract comprises eight T-6C Texan II advanced military training aircraft, in-country field service and logistics support representatives, program management support, interim contractor support for the first year, training for pilots and maintenance professionals, spare engines, spare parts and aircraft support equipment.

“Textron Aviation Defense is honoured the Tunisian Air Force has chosen the world’s best and most affordable military trainer — the legendry Beechcraft T-6C Texan II — as its next primary trainer,” said Fouad Kasri, Director of Sales & Strategy for Africa and the Middle East, Textron Aviation Defense. “Tunisia is the thirteenth nation to acquire the T-6 and has now taken delivery of the 1,001st T-6 manufactured by our team in Wichita. We are delighted to welcome yet another North African and Mediterranean allied nation to the distinguished group of global air forces who rely on the next-generation T-6 Integrated Training System to achieve their pilot training objectives.” Textron Aviation Defense collaborated with the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) and the U.S. Air Force Security Assistance Training Squadron (AFSAT) to support the Tunisian Air Force’s modernization and growth program.

“Becoming a regional leader in military flight training excellence is one of the milestones to achieving our counter-terrorism and border security mission requirements,” said General Mohamed Hajjem, the Tunisian Air Force Chief of Staff. “We are grateful to Textron Aviation Defense, AFLCMC and AFSAT for supporting our acquisition of the Beechcraft T-6C Texan II, as well as our efforts to achieve territorial sovereignty and regional stability. This acquisition paves the way for additional bilateral engagements and strengthens our relationship with the United States.” Textron Aviation Defense expects to deliver the second Tunisian Air Force T-6C in late 2022. The remaining six aircraft are slated for delivery in 2023. Training of the initial cadre of pilots began Oct. 31 at Textron Aviation Defense facilities in Wichita, Kansas. Source: ‚Textron-/Beechcraft website‚.

Pipistrel Seeks To Certify Panthera

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Textron unit Pipistrel plans to seek full EASA IFR certification for its four-seat Panthera single-engine aircraft equipped with a Lycoming IO-540 engine and Garmin G1000 Nxi avionics. The aircraft is currently flying under an experimental license and is on display at EAA AirVenture 2022. The low-wing, retractable gear aircraft has a range of 955 nm and a cruising speed of 200 knots. It has gull-wing passenger doors and a removable rear seat for extra luggage space.

Also at AirVenture, Pipistrel plans to demonstrate and promote its two-seat, all-electric Velis Electro for the flight training market and will seek FAA certification validation. The aircraft has already been certified by EASA and the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Velis Electro has been under development for 12 years and has an external noise footprint of just 60 dBA. The aircraft “has already had a lot of success in Europe,” said Gabriel Massey, president and managing director of Pipistrel. “Having the world’s only certified electric aircraft available in the US is a very exciting prospect, especially for such a large GA and flight training market.”

Textron acquired Pipstrel earlier this year in a deal valued at $222 million. It is now part of Textron’s new aviation division headed by Rob Scholl, but will be operated as a separate company and a distinct brand, headquartered in Slovenia with additional production in Italy. Pipistrel founder Ivo Boscarol remains an advisor to the company. Pipistrel manufactures a family of gliders and light-powered aircraft with both electric and internal combustion engines, with additional electric and hybrid propulsion models under development, and has delivered 2,500 aircraft worldwide since 1989. Part of the company’s strategy is to make Textron “the world leader in durable aircraft for a wide variety of missions”.

Speaking to AIN ahead of AirVenture, Scholl said, Textron leveraged Pipistrel’s extensive experience with electric flight for some of Textron’s other programs, including its eAviation division’s Nexus urban air mobility, its certification and product support experience to strengthen the Pipistrel brand. “We’re really excited about the team and the manufacturing facility they have. There are locations in Slovenia and Italy,” Scholl said. “We plan to have both the business headquarters in Slovenia and the manufacturing in Italy. They’ve got a very good supply chain around composite manufacturing. They don’t plan to change the core aspects of how aircraft are designed and built. Textron Aviation’s By leveraging our global reach, we hope to help them build more aircraft and increase service and support.”

Scholl said the Pipistrel aircraft “complement” Textron Aviation’s existing Cessna and Beechcraft brands of piston engine aircraft. “We’re giving customers another option to step into a different type of aircraft,” he said. Under the Textron umbrella, Pipistrel will continue development work on a hybrid-electric-powered version of the Panthera, Scholl said, but he did not give a timeline for bringing it to market. He said the company will likely offer different powerplant options for the aircraft in the future. Source: ‚tNewsDesk‚.

Textron takes over Pipistrel

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Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT), home to the Cessna, Beechcraft, and Bell aviation brands, today announced it has entered into an agreement to purchase Pipistrel, an award-winning pioneer and global leader in electrically powered aircraft, based in Slovenia and Italy.

With Textron, Pipistrel will have access to greater resources, technical and regulatory expertise and a global aircraft sales and support network, enabling it to accelerate its development and certification of electric and hybrid-electric aircraft. Upon closing of the transaction, Textron plans to form a new business segment, Textron eAviation, focused on the development of sustainable aircraft, which will include Pipistrel. “Pipistrel puts Textron in a uniquely strong position to develop technologies for the sustainable aviation market and develop a variety of new aircraft to meet a wide range of customer missions,” said Textron Chairman and CEO Scott Donnelly. “Today’s announcement supports Textron’s long-term strategy to offer a family of sustainable aircraft for urban air mobility, general aviation, cargo and special mission roles.”

“Pipistrel has been celebrated as one of the world’s most important and successful manufacturers of electric aircraft,” continued Donnelly. “Textron is committed to maintaining Pipistrel’s brand, headquarters, research and development, and manufacturing in Slovenia and Italy while making additional investments in Pipistrel for the development and production of future products.” Pipistrel founder and CEO Ivo Boscarol will remain a minority shareholder as well as Chairman Emeritus, consulting on future product plans and strategies for a two-year period.

“Under my 30-year leadership, Pipistrel’s team has achieved a uniquely prime position in personal, affordable, environmentally friendly and electric aviation. The trend and foundation for future projects have clearly been set,” said Boscarol. “To drive Pipistrel’s ambitious goals and to continue its story of success, the joining of Textron and Pipistrel provides deep expertise and resources which would otherwise be inaccessible to Pipistrel alone. With Textron, we are together geared to strive for future growth and look forward to announcing exciting new products and projects. I am delighted to continue witnessing my vision become a reality by being actively engaged with the company for the future.” The transaction is expected to close during the second quarter of 2022, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. Source: ‚Textron‚.

Textron Aviation names 2021 top hawk participants

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Textron Aviation has named four participants for its 2021 Top Hawk program that places the world’s leading training aircraft, the Cessna Skyhawk, with top pilot training programs around the country, promoting general aviation and encouraging young people to pursue aviation as a career. The 2021 Top Hawk participants are SoCal Pilot Center, Mike Smith Aviation, Louisville Aviation and Lanier Flight Center.

As a Top Hawk participant, these schools and Cessna Pilot Centers (CPCs) receive a factory-new, custom-branded Cessna Skyhawk to use for the duration of the program for student pilot training and to promote pilot training at air shows, aviation contests and recruiting events. Throughout the past six years, Textron Aviation has placed 26 Cessna Skyhawks with participating Top Hawk schools and CPCs around the country, training more than 1,000 students to help fill the pipeline of skilled aviators.

The Cessna Skyhawk platform is the world standard for pilot training and is renowned for offering the best combination of modern features, including the leading Garmin G1000 NXi avionics system with wireless connectivity, a standard angle-of-attack display system, and proven dependability. More Skyhawks have been delivered to customers around the world than any other type of aircraft, with more than 45,000 delivered. Source: ‚Cessna / Beechcraft‚.