6/13/09:
Spectrum Produces First
Freedom S.40 Fuselage
Test Article To Be Used For
Production Process
Validation
Progress! As part of the
ongoing development program
of the S.40 Freedom mid-size
jet, Spectrum Aeronautical
is chatting up the first of
a series of Fuselage
Manufacturing Demonstrator (FMD)
test articles that has
recently been completed. The
FMDs will be used to
validate the production
process for the aircraft’s
all-composite one-piece
co-cured fuselage.
“This is a real milestone
for the program,” noted
Spectrum’s president, Austin
Blue.
“Our approach at Spectrum is
to work diligently on
technical development of our
aircraft and maintaining our
focus on getting them into
production. Completion of a
full scale part like this is
the result of comprehensive
tooling and process
development that is taking
us ever closer to our first
flight test aircraft and
delivery to our customers.”
Due to the proprietary
nature of the manufacturing
process the company could
not release any technical
details, but Blue did say
however, that this first FMD
was in line with engineering
projections and clearly
shows the effectiveness of
the methods.
“We’ve developed our
manufacturing technologies
over years of research and
testing. This represents a
new stage in their
maturity,” said Blue. He
added that, “The FMD is a
testament to the ingenuity,
hard work, and skill of a
great development team.”

The key feature of the
Freedom’s airframe is the
use of large, co-cured
composite structures.
Co-curing the major
structural elements joins
the components at the
molecular level, providing
exceptional strength and
durability. As a result, the
adhesive bonding required by
many other types of
composite fabrication
methods is significantly
reduced. Composite co-cured
structures also eliminate
the need for extensive
riveting that is required
for conventional aluminum
airframes, saving both
manufacturing time and
reducing overall weight.
“Limiting the amount of
bonding and eliminating
virtually all secondary
fasteners allows us to build
a lighter, higher performing
aircraft,” Blue explained.
The light weight also
contributes to better fuel
efficiency, allowing the
S.40 to cut fuel consumption
by as much as half that of
comparably sized metal
aircraft. The reduction in
fuel use also makes the
aircraft one of the
“greenest” jet designs by
significantly cutting back
the amount of emissions.
“This is a very exciting
time for us,” said Blue.

“We are at the forefront of
technical innovation that
will change business
aviation.” Spectrum
Aeronautical has sales and
administrative offices in
Carlsbad, California, with
its Aircraft Development
Center located in Spanish
Fork, Utah. The privately
held company is developing
two jets: the Freedom S.40,
a nine-place mid-sized jet
powered by GE Honda Aero
Engines’ HF120 fanjets; and
the Independence S.33, a
seven-place light jet using
Williams International’s
FJ33-4A jet engines.

Both aircraft feature the
company’s revolutionary
composite airframe
technology, enabling an
empty weight 40% less than
comparably sized aluminum
aircraft. The light weight
combined with efficient
next-generation fanjet
engines allows significant
reduction in fuel
consumption and emission of
green-house gasses.
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.
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.
|
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
External
links