Focus Currently On Systems Configuration, Flight Controls

Adam Aircraft told ANN Wednesday of several important milestones for the company's A700 AdamJet certification program. The first fully conforming A700, Serial Number 003, joined the flight program with its first flight on April 9, 2007. Since first flight, testing has focused on the evaluation of the production configuration of flight controls, landing gear system, avionics, and data acquisition system used for flight testing.

"Since Serial Number 003 entered the flight program, the aircraft has handled very well and all systems are performing as expected," stated Adam Aircraft Flight Test Pilot Jeff Peer. "We are working on air speed calibration and stability and control effectiveness with different configurations throughout the flight envelope. The three-screen Avidyne display has been particularly impressive in providing a clear overview of the aircraft’s performance, perspectives, and the aircraft is very reliable out of the box."

In addition to Serial Number 003, two nonconforming prototypes have completed more than 989 hours of risk-reduction testing. "We learned a lot from the two prototypes and we are very pleased with Jet 003."

Adam Aircraft reports S/N 003's all-carbon fiber design has met or exceeded its structural design parameters. The aircraft has completed Ground Vibration Testing (GVT), which is a necessary step in clearing the aircraft for its full-speed operating envelope, including a maximum cruise speed of 340 KTAS and maximum operating ceiling of 41,000 feet.

In support of flight test, Adam Aircraft is also conducting full-scale static testing on several test articles and has successfully completed more than 75 percent of the company tests. Static testing for FAA requirements is currently 20 percent complete and will conclude in 2007.

The fuselage, wing, and tail for Jet 004 have been mated, and the aircraft will join the test program this summer, followed by Jet 005 later this year. The last aircraft used in the certification program, Jet 006, will be built to support the Functional and Reliability (F&R) tests at the end of the flight test program.

Following the conclusion of F&R tests, Adam expects to obtain its A700 Type Certificate, with deliveries beginning in 2008. The A700 will be added to the Adam Aircraft Production Certificate (PC) already in place for its facilities in Englewood and Pueblo, CO and Ogden, UT in support of production of the A500 piston twin aircraft, which shares many of its components with the AdamJet.

FMI: www.adamaircraft.com