Thu, Jul 28, 2005
Hopes For Certified Production Aircraft by January 2006
Dick Silva of Seawind Incorporated based in Kimberton, PA
announced certification and production schedules for the Seawind
300C aircraft during a press conference at Oshkosh Airventure. The
Seawind 300C is a high performance four seat (with a five seat
family configuration with three child seats across the back
available) composite amphibious aircraft with 3400 pound gross
weight and 191 mph cruise speed.
The Seawind originally entered the market in 1991 as a kit
plane. 130 kits have sold and 75 aircraft have flown since its
introduction in 1991.
Certification of composite aircraft is still a fairly new and
time consuming process, resulting in a one year slip in Seawind's
original certification schedule, and a 15 percent shortfall in
funding to complete certification. But Seawind obtained the
additional funding they needed last fall and report significant
progress toward certification. The manufacturing and bond line
processes have been approved with the E-glass and vinylester resin
that Seawind has chosen for its salt water corrosion
resistance.
The next major tests to be completed will be the seat crash
tests and lightning strike capability for the IFR version. Pricing
for the VFR version is set at $294,700.00 through August 2, 2005.
An additional $38,000.00 will get a Sagem supplied glass cockpit
and the lightning suppression metal mesh added to the composite
structure.
The Seawind 300C will be powered by the Continental IO-550 with
the FADEC version available as an option that provides 15
additional horsepower and the simplicity of single lever operation.
Seawind reported that 1/3 of the kitplane customers held water
ratings, but that the marketing survey that they recently completed
showed only 18% of the customers for the production plane currently
do.
Based on this survey, Seawind also announced that they are going
to have a deluxe interior with leather seats available for the
group of customers that will primarily use the aircraft as a land
based cross country cruiser, with only occasional water
operation.
Deposits have been placed for 33 aircraft, selling out all
available 2006 delivery slots. Silva anticipated that all 2007
delivery slots would be sold out by the end of Airventure.
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