Piper Aircraft's Single-Engine Altaire Jet Mockup Along With A Dozen Other Aircraft Will Be On Display

Piper Aircraft's single-engine Altaire jet mockup, along with a dozen other aircraft, will be on display at the Great Plains Air Expo May 11 at America Jet at KSLN from 1000 to 1800 local time. The mockup of the high performance very light business jet has been making its way around North America. By the end of the year, it will have stopped in 16 states and Canada.

"We are pleased to see a major airplane manufacturer like Piper Aircraft bring its newest product to the Salina Airport. It is further recognition of our area's important role in the aviation marketplace," said Tim Rogers, A.A.E., executive director of the Salina Airport Authority. Other aircraft expected to be on site include a Diamond DA42, Quest Kodiak, Cessna Corvalis TT, Beechcraft King Air C90 and more.
 
The Great Plains Air Expo is an opportunity to see numerous aircraft manufacturers and vendors in one location. A wide selection of aircraft will be on hand for viewing and staff will be available to assist prospective buyers with selecting an aircraft that meets their needs.
 
Piper has committed 175 engineering personnel to the jet program. Detailed design drawings are being released at the scheduled pace and top-level assembly drawings are in progress. First production parts for the first of four conforming articles have been produced and the company is on schedule for first flight of conforming articles in 2012. The company has selected all Tier 1 vendors, including Hampson/GTS, which has resident tool designers on site and will be delivering tools over the next 12 months. Renovation for the future Altaire production facility will be complete by this summer. The building will be tooled and ready for aircraft production during 2012. Construction of the static test rig for FAA structural testing requirements has begun and will be complete this year.

Price point for the Piper Altaire is $2.5 million, with a typically equipped aircraft priced at $2.6 million. Piper estimates that the Altaire will cost an average of 25 percent less to operate per hour than comparable production very light jets. The round fuselage and new wing provide all the performance and cabin improvements of a clean sheet aircraft coupled with the proven reliability of Piper's manufacturing techniques honed over the decades with the company's lineup of airplanes, including M-class aircraft - the Meridian, Malibu and Matrix.
 
Piper is targeting a 1,300nm maximum range for the aircraft with a maximum cruise speed planned at 360 knots. The airplane is planned to fly 1,200 nautical miles with a payload of 800 pounds. Certification and first customer deliveries are planned for 2014. The airplane is equipped with an integrated flight deck. It features Garmin G3000 avionics complete with the first touch screen-controlled glass panel designed for light turbine aircraft, three displays, two touch screens and a GFC 700 automatic flight control system. The improved aircraft will also have crew seats that are easy to access and an ergodynamic interface between pilot and avionics. 

FMI: www.salinaairport.com