Larger Bizjet Will Use New GE Honda HF120 Engine
Despite the unfortunate loss of its prototype plane earlier this
year, Spectrum Aeronautical is not slowing down in its goal of
offering lightweight business jets. In fact, the company told ANN
it plans to announce the development of a second jet at the
National Business Aviation Association 2006 conference.
The new mid-size business aircraft, called the Spectrum Freedom
S-40, will be powered by the new GE Honda HF120 engine. The Freedom
is considerably larger than Spectrum's first aircraft, the Spectrum
Independence S-33 very-light-jet. Spectrum tells ANN the Freedom
will sport a true "stand-up" cabin made using carbon fiber/epoxy,
to give the aircraft exceptional performance and value.
Spectrum says that like the S-33, the larger plane will
significantly reduce operating costs -- particularly fuel
consumption -- and its composite materials won't fatigue or
corrode. Spectrum's Freedom is designed to cruise at FL450 at
speeds up to 435 knots (500 mph) and fly as far as 2,200 nautical
miles while using significantly less fuel than any other comparably
sized aircraft. The company is targeting certification and entry
into service in 2010.
The new jet will utilize GE Honda's new 2000+ lb. thrust HF120
turbofan engine. Drawing from both GE and Honda’s technology,
leadership, and experience, the HF120 is being designed and tested
with the goal of setting new standards of performance for small jet
engines in terms of fuel efficiency, durability, with low noise and
emissions. Certification for the HF120 production engine is
targeted for 2009. (GE Honda's HF118 is shown above.)
"GE and Honda represent experience, integrity and finesse. We
expect their new engine will rise to the quality the world has come
to expect from those companies," said Spectrum managing director
Linden Blue.
Gary Leonard, President of GE Honda Aero Engines added, "Since
the joint company was formed in 2004, the collaboration between GE
and Honda has been outstanding. We are fully focused on introducing
new propulsion technologies that will raise the bar for this
segment of aviation. We are pleased to be working with Spectrum
Aeronautical and believe that the Spectrum Freedom has a bright
future."
Spectrum's first aircraft, the S-33, was announced at last
year's NBAA conference -- and made its first flight in January
(shown above). That plane, however, was destroyed in a July takeoff crash that
claimed the lives of test pilots Glenn Maben and Nathan
Forrest.
An NTSB investigation stated the plane's ailerons had been
misrigged following maintenance on an unrelated aircraft
system.