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.
NTSB Prelim: Piper PA-23
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