Firms Will Work To Develop FF-1080 Freighter Prototype

Utilicraft Aerospace Industries of Albuquerque, NM tells ANN it has contracted with M7 Aerospace LP for the design and development of the pre-production prototype wing and powerplant installation for Utilicraft's fledgling FF-1080 Freight Feeder aircraft. 

The FF-1080-200 is a high-wing, twin-engine turboprop aircraft designed to carry eight fully loaded LD3 cargo containers for a distance of 500 nautical miles. Lighter loads can be carried distances up to 2,000 nautical miles, although the aircraft is primarily intended for use in the short haul feeder role for large volume package carriers.

M7's Engineering Division has begun designing attachments and interface of the Pratt & Whitney PW-127G engines and nacelles to the existing prototype wing center section. Fuselage design and tooling is underway at Utilicraft and Metalcraft Technologies Inc.

Utilicraft currently has orders and options for 25 FF-1080-200s. The aircraft is designed to have short takeoff and landing (STOL) capability, to operate from airfields with less than 3,500 feet of available runway.

"We are pleased to be associated with the development of this exciting new product that brings so much value to the air cargo industry," said Joe Furnish, vice president of M7's Engineering Division. 

M7's Engineering Division provides a wide variety of engineering services to M7 Aerospace, its customers, and other organizations or individuals requiring design, analysis or test procedures.

M7's engineering team has certified aircraft and systems to requirements of the US Federal Aviation Administration, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and other foreign certification agencies, spanning the requirements of FAR 23, 25, 27, 29 and their European equivalents.  The team is familiar with both fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft.

Utilicraft plans to have the FF-1080 certified to FAA Part 25 requirements.

FMI: www.m7aerospace.com, www.utilicraft.com