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Spectrum Freedom & Independence Micro Jet:

Spectrum Selects Honeywell's Primus Apex For S-40 Freedom
Lightweight Midsize Jet Targeted For '09 Certification

Chalk up a second aircraft manufacturer to announce this week the selection of Honeywell's latest avionics suite. On Wednesday, Spectrum Aeronautical said it has selected the Honeywell Primus Apex integrated avionics platform for its new Freedom S-40 mid-sized business jet.

"The Freedom is unique in the mid-size jet category because of its extraordinary capabilities and efficiency in a variety of missions," said Austin Blue, Spectrum's President. "We feel Honeywell's Primus Apex platform provides a combination of best-in-class features and rock-solid reliability that offer the flexibility our customers are looking for."

The Primus Apex configuration for the Freedom features four screens: 15" primary flight displays (PFDs) at the crew stations, and two 10.4" multifunction displays (MFDs). All use ultra-high resolution graphics, and the installation incorporates multiple redundancies for enhanced reliability. Additional features include advanced auto-flight control, graphical flight planning, paperless charts and maps, keypad data entry, and cursor control device technology. The system is also compliant with current mandates, such as Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) and Enhanced Mode S Diversity.

"Safety and reliability are key design considerations for the S-40, and so is the ability to operate world-wide," Blue added, "so Primus Apex is perfectly in line with those objectives. It's already certified in several applications and, like our aircraft, Primus Apex offers features typically found on business jets that cost millions more to purchase. We're confident that it will assure Freedom pilots easier flight deck operation and improved overall safety."

"The Freedom is a game-changing platform that can take full advantage of the features we've incorporated into Primus Apex," said John Todd, Vice President, Business and General Aviation for Honeywell Aerospace. "Our system's integration expertise will be an advantage for Spectrum as they continue the S-40's development and certification program."

Targeted for certification in 2009, the composite-bodied S-40 will provide seating for up to seven passengers, with a stand-up cabin offering up to six feet of height and width, and includes a private enclosed aft lavatory. Spectrum intends the S-40 to be approved for single-pilot operation, with maximum a speed of Mach 0.77 and non-stop range capability of 2,250 nautical miles at a cruising altitude of 45,000 feet.

The Primus Apex was selected by Pilatus for that planemaker's PC-12 NG. As ANN reported Saturday, Viking Air will also use the system on its re-introduced DHC-6 Series 400 Twin Otters, and Primus Apex has also been selected by Grob for its upcoming spn aircraft.

FMI: www.spectrum.aero
 
 

Spectrum Accelerates Certification Program For S-40 Freedom Light Jet

Announces Engine Change For S-33 Independence VLJ

"Faster." That's the common theme behind two recent announcements by Spectrum Aeronautical LLC, which tells ANN it continues to make strides in bringing two new business jets to market.

Spectrum tells ANN the company plans to accelerate the FAA Type Certification program for its upcoming S-40 "Freedom" light jet offering... while also making an engine change to the smaller S-33 "Independence" very-light jet.

Linden Blue, Chairman and founder of Spectrum, says the company recently decided to use the Williams FJ33-4A-19 engine on the S-33 Independence, instead of the previously announced FJ33-4A-15. Blue says the change will give the VLJ a substantial step up in thrust -- a combined 3,500 lbs, according to company specs -- as well as efficiency.

"The Independence already had the highest thrust to weight ratio of any business jet, and now it's even better," Blue said. "Also, the -19 incorporates Williams' latest technology, so with the additional thrust it has even better fuel specifics. We're enthusiastic about continuing to work with Williams on this exceptional airplane."

As for the larger S-40 Freedom (below), Spectrum says it is taking full advantage of opportunities in development of the Honda-powered light jet... and the program has gained momentum over the past year.

"We've made the decision to accelerate the Freedom's development and move its anticipated TC schedule up by about a year," said Spectrum President Austin Blue. Previously, Spectrum looked to certify the S-40 in 2010; now, the company is targeting a TC in 2009, in line with the anticipated certification date for the HF120 engine.

FMI: www.spectrum.aero
Spectrum S-33 Independence VLJ

The Spectrum S-33, renamed Independence in late 2006, is a new Very Light Jet designed and built by Spectrum Aeronautical, LLC using a revolutionary graphite-epoxy construction process that gives the aircraft essentially the same size cabin as popular
8-9 seat light business jets, at less than two-thirds the weight. The aircraft is designed to cruise at 45,000 ft. at speeds up to 415 knots (Mach 0.72) and fly as far as 2000 nm (3700 km) while using about half the fuel of comparably sized traditional business aircraft. FAA and JAA Type Certifications of the S-33 Independence are estimated for 2009.

The aircraft will accommodate 5-6 passenger seats, a full-sized, private lavatory, a maximum take-off Weight of 7,300 lbs. and a 2000+-mile range. Comparisons of the S-33 Independence with traditional business jets of similar cabin size and other VLJs quickly point to the revolutionary relationship between characteristics and financials of the aircraft. The retail sales price of the aircraft is $3.65m (in 2006 dollars).

Incident

The only completed S-33, registration N322LA, crashed in a test flight July 25, 2006 in Spanish Fork, Utah, killing the two test pilots aboard, Glenn Maben and Nathan Forrest. The aircraft rolled right immediately after takeoff, reaching a 90 degree angle before the wingtip struck the ground. The preliminary NTSB report revealed that the control linkage had been connected backwards during maintenance after the previous flight, resulting in opposite control output (a left roll input on the control stick resulting in the aircraft rolling right).

Specifications

General characteristics

  • Seating: 1 crew, 6-9 passengers
  • Length: 45'11" (13.995m)
  • Wingspan: 42'1" (12.827m)
  • Height: 11'8" (3.556m)
  • Interior Height: 4'10" (1.473m)
  • Interior Width: 4'10" (1.473m)
  • Interior Length (total): 18' (5.486m)
  • Maximum takeoff weight: 7,300 lbs. (3311 kg)
  • Powerplant: Williams FJ33-4 3,136 lbs. total thrust

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 415 kts (768 km/hr)
  • Service ceiling: 45,000 ft (13716 m)
  • Range: 1600-2000 nm (2960-3700 km)

References

  1. ^ NTSB Report SEA06FA146 NTSB crash report

External links

Spectrum S-40 Freedom

The Spectrum S-40 Freedom is a proposed business jet that is expected to be classified as a very light jet. During the 2006 NBAA Conference in Orlando, FL, Spectrum Aeronautical announced development of their second VLJ, the S-40 Freedom. Although the S-40 Freedom features a cabin comparable to the Lear 60, Hawker 800 and the Citation XLS, at a Max. Take-Off Weight of less than 10,000 lbs. the aircraft should still be considered a VLJ, just like the S-33 Independence. The Spectrum S-40 Freedom is a new, mid-size Very Light Jet designed and built by Spectrum Aeronautical, LLC using a revolutionary graphite-epoxy construction process that gives the aircraft essentially the same size cabin as other popular 8-9 seat light business jets, at less than two-thirds the weight. The aircraft is designed to cruise at 45,000 ft. at speeds up to 435 knots (Mach 0.76) and fly as far as 2030 nm (3750 km) while using about half the fuel of comparably sized traditional business aircraft.

FAA and JAA Type Certifications of the S-40 Freedom are estimated for 2010. The mid-size Spectrum Freedom S-40 is the newest aircraft in the Spectrum Aeronautical line. Built utilizing the same unique all carbon-fiber epoxy construction technologies, the S-40 expands on the idea of the S-33 Independence with a cabin size in the same class as Lear 60, Citation XLS and Gulfstream G150 – while still delivering superior economics, utility and performance. Spectrum Aeronautical is one of two launch customers for the HF120 engine from GE Honda. The retail sales price of the aircraft is $6.2 (in 2006 dollars).

Technology

The S-40 has a full six foot, stand-up cabin, IFR ranges better than 2,200 nautical miles and speeds over 430 nautical miles per hour Inside, the cabins of both the S-30 and the S-40 are the quietest and most comfortable in their classes. This is because the engines are positioned further back & cabin pressure differential is 10 PSI.

Specifications

General characteristics

  • Seating: 1 crew, 7-9 passengers
  • Length: 53'10" (16.4m)
  • Wingspan: 45'6" (13.9m)
  • Height: 11'8" (3.6m)
  • Interior Height: 6'00" (1.8m)
  • Interior Width: 6'00" (1.8m)
  • Interior Length (Cabin Divider to PB): 16' (4.9m)
  • Interior Length (Total; PB to PB): 21'2" (4.9m)
  • Maximum takeoff weight: 9,550 lbs (4336 kg)
  • Powerplant: GE Honda HF120 (2x) 4,100 lbt. total thrust (Sea Level, ISA)

Performance