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.

FMI: www.seawind.biz