If real thing is as much fun as the preview, I gotta get me one of these!

By ANN Reporter Juan Jimenez

There are three sure things in this world: Death, taxes and an ANN staffers' response to an invitation to fly a custom simulator for a cool new aircraft. We all know we're headed for the first, we all know we have to deal with the second every year, and today we had to deal with the third. It was a no-brainer.

Few people can say they don't know about the Javelin, the sleek, fighter-like twinjet aircraft designed and marketed by Aviation Technology Group, Inc, out of Englewood, CO. The company plans to design the aircraft for certification and initial deliveries under FAR 23 rules in the year 2006.

To demonstrate the aircraft's capabilities and give prospective customers a taste of the performance they can expect from the aircraft, ATG commissioned the design and construction of an FTD (Flight Training Device) from Merlin Simulation, Inc.  Merlin Simulation is headed by Mr. Kenneth Zimmerman and has over 20 years in the field of flight simulation. They have worked on a diverse number of flight simulation projects for aircraft such as the F-18 Hornet, EF-111 Raven, MH-53 Sea Dragon, HH-65 Dolphin, Cessna 152, CH-46 Sea Knight, Robinson R-22 and the SH-60/LAMPS Sea Hawk.

The design of the FTD is very clever, and achieves a level of realism that in our opinion can only be enhanced through the addition of more display resolution and full motion hardware. The cockpit sits under a projection device that represents one-quarter of a sphere and which covers the field of view 180 degrees side to side and 90 degrees vertical.

The cockpit is equipped with realistic flight controls, a full complement of systems controls and switches and a two-display Avidyne Flightmax Entegra PFD and EFIS system. A set of speakers for audio feedback completes the illusion of realism.

Under the direction of Mr. Rob "Fusch" Fuschino, VP of Operations at ATG, this reporter took the simulator for a ride through the virtual skies of Colorado, in the Denver/Centennial Airport area. According to Mr. Fuschino, the simulator has been programmed to faithfully recreate the proposed performance and flight characteristics of the Javelin aircraft. With two Williams FJ-33 1500 lb thrust turbofan engines, it quickly became apparent that this aircraft will be no slouch.

Full throttle, and a few seconds after brake release we hit Vr at 130 knots. Ten degrees nose up, gear up, flaps up and soon the aircraft was blasting through 200 knots at a climb rate of 6000 fpm, and rising. We leveled off at 10,000 feet and took the bird through some simple maneuvers meant to get the pilot used to the flight controls. The aircraft is extremely responsive to flight control inputs, which was to be expected given its design. However, it only took a few seconds to tone down control inputs and begin enjoying the ride.

We then put the aircraft through a number of simple aerobatic maneuvers, and some low-level flight through a mountain pass. After safely negotiating the rocks and cliffs, Mr. Fuschino instructed me to level off, trim, them lower the nose and apply full throttle to both engines. At 300 knots, we initiated a 50-degree climb, and he asked me to look at the rate of climb indication. I was astonished to see a full 30,000-fpm on the digital display. There is no doubt in my mind that the lucky buyers of these aircraft are going to have a blast shooting across the sky.

For the end of the session we set up for an ILS approach into Centennial. The aircraft was easily stabilized at 130 knots and an 800 fpm descent, and once trimmed, rode the glide slope almost entirely hands-free to an… ahem… somewhat bumpy landing.

If you're planning to get yourself on the waiting list for this rocket, you'd better hurry: if you come up with a deposit check today, you'll get delivery position number 83. Seems like there's no shortage of other pilots that have come away from the FTD as impressed as we are with the Javelin.

FMI: www.avtechgroup.com, www.merlinsimulation.com