Builds On Mod Program Nearing Certification
Clifford Development announced this week the first flights of a
Citation S550 equipped with Williams International FJ44-3A engines.
These flights are significant milestones in the development of a
Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) to certify Cessna Citation S550
aircraft with new engines... improving performance, cost of
operation and safety.
The certification aircraft lifted off from Michigan’s
Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport for a 30-minute first
flight. The flight profile was designed to evaluate aircraft
handling and engine controllability. A second flight, which
evaluated all aircraft systems interfaced with the engines and
aircraft response to the new more powerful engines, was completed.
Clifford Development and Great Lakes Aviation pilots and test
engineers piloted and evaluated the aircraft.
"These flights are a continuation of the successes that we have
had at each milestone with this airplane," said said Bruce Wilcox,
chief operating officer of Clifford Development. "The first
‘power on’ went very well. The first engine runs were
flawless. And, today we had two flights, during which each
engine-interfaced system, including pressurization, was evaluated.
It’s significant that the airplane returned without a single
squawk. The entire engineering, production and flight test team has
done a remarkable job during the 150 days since we removed the
original engines from this Citation S550. Now, on to Mojave."
"We are delighted that all system interfaces work correctly on
the very first flight. With these two successful flights behind us,
we are in a position to move the Citation S550 program forward very
quickly," said Jim Clifford, CEO of Clifford Development. He noted
that the Company’s experience with its current Citation 550
re-engining program has helped to accelerate the Citation S550
certification.
Based on computations using the NASA-developed General Aviation
Synthesis Program (GASP), Clifford projects the re-engined Citation
S550 will have significant performance improvements: a 27 minute
time-to-climb to FL430 versus the current one hour and 47 minute
step-climb profile; a 40 percent increase in NBAA range with four
passengers; a 34 percent improvement in single engine climb rate;
and a 20 percent improvement in fuel efficiency.
In the coming weeks, the certification airplane will move to
Mojave Airport to begin 100 hours of test flights to verify
performance and to meet the FAA requirements. The Company
anticipates the issuance of an STC in early fourth quarter of
2008.
The Citation S550 engine conversion is priced at $2,275,000 for
2008 installations. This price includes engines, engine core
credit, digital engine instrumentation, winglets, Clifford
Development aircraft improvement package, installation labor and
training.
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