AASI Jetcruzer

Last updated
AASI Jetcruzer
JetCruzer 450.jpg
JetCruzer 450 in flight. Photo taken in 1990.
General information
TypeLight civil transport aircraft
Manufacturer Advanced Aerodynamics and Structures Inc.
Number built5 [1]
History
Introduction date1994
First flight1989-01-11

The AASI Jetcruzer was an American single turboprop light civil transport made by Advanced Aerodynamics and Structures Inc. The Jetcruzer had an unusual configuration, with a single turboprop engine driving a pusher propeller, a prominent canard, and fins mounted at the ends of its swept wings. The plane has seating for up to six people including the pilot. The Jetcruzer is noteworthy for being the first aircraft to have achieved a spin resistance certification from the United States FAA.

Contents

Development

Jetcruzer 450

Design work on the Jetcruzer commenced in March 1983, with prototype construction starting in 1988. The aerodynamic design was undertaken in the UK by Sandy Burns from 1984-1985, layout prepared by Ladislao Pazmany, structural design undertaken by David Kent of Light Transport Design in the UK, and the wind tunnel test done by University of San Diego. Prototype construction started in June 1988 and was first exhibited at the NBAA show in October 1988 with a 420 horsepower Rolls-Royce 250-C20S engine. The Allison 250-C20S prototype first flew on January 11, 1989. [2] This initial version, designated the Jetcruzer 450 seated six people (including the pilot). The first flight of the Jetcruzer 450 forerunner was 11 January 1989 (N5369M). Preproduction prototype (N102JC) made its first flight in April 1991 while the first flight on production form (N450JC) was done on September 13 1992.

It received its Federal Aviation Regulations Part 23 certification on 14 June, 1994, and was intending on receiving a single-engine FAA Part 135 public transport IFR certification Three prototypes were built, but AASI chose not to market this aircraft, in order to focus on more advanced versions. A spin recovery system for use in the flight test program was designed for the aircraft by Butler Parachute Systems which also worked on one for the Sino Swearingen SJ-30.

Jetcruzer 500

The first version developed from the 450 was the Jetcruzer 500, a slightly stretched version powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-66A featuring cabin pressurization. Two of the model 450 prototypes were converted to this configuration. The prototype Jetcruzer 500 (N102JC) made its first flight on August 22, 1997 with the second prototype (N200JC) making its first flight on 7 November 1997. The first public appearance was at NBAA Las Vegas October 1998. The third prototype (N136JC) of the new build was scheduled to be flown in early 2000. This was the version selected for production, and at one point, AASI had orders for some 200 aircraft at $US 1.6 million each. A military version, the ML-2 had also been offered, as well as a UAV, the ML-1. [3]

None of these orders would be filled, however, as the Jetcruzer 500 remained uncertified and its development slowly stagnated. Specific problems with the aircraft's noise, high stall speed, and center of gravity were not overcome before all work on it was suspended in 2002. Nearly 20 years of work had still not resulted in a marketable aircraft.

Jetcruzer 650

In December 1992, construction work began on the prototype of an even larger variant, the Jetcruzer 650, which was to seat up to thirteen. This was quickly abandoned as the company's financial problems required resources to be focused on the 500. A military version would have been the ML-4.

Stratocruzer 1250

Similarly, a turbofan-powered version was planned as the Stratocruzer 1250, but never left the drawing board. Design work had started in September 1991 to provide a business jet with intercontinental range. A military version, the ML-5 intended for surveillance duties, was also planned. Work was abandoned after AASI failed to attract financial backers for the project in 1995.

Post AASI Era

Jetcruzer 500E at Ontario airport, 2022 Jetcruzer 500E.jpg
Jetcruzer 500E at Ontario airport, 2022

In November 2003, AASI (by now, MASG) offered the entire Jetcruzer project for auction, and sold it to Innova Aircraft in February 2004. Shortly after the purchase, Innova announced its intentions of offering a new version of the aircraft in kit form, marketed by a new subsidiary, Jetcruzer LLC. This will feature a modified wing to overcome the problems faced by the Jetcruzer 500, and will be powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D turbofans. It was expected to fly by late 2004 or early 2005, but development ceased before the flight can happen.[ citation needed ]

In 2017, all the aircraft and intellectual properties were acquired by Jetcruzer International, LLC., based in Ontario, California, and production resumed. All Jetcruzer components and subassemblies including wings, landing gear, fins, control surfaces and fittings are manufactured in the company's Ontario facility. The composite fuselage is subcontracted to a composite manufacturing company currently producing advanced composite parts for the transport aerospace industry. A Jetcruzer 500E was restored with new avionics, electrical wirings and a new engine. The first flight of this aircraft is planned in September 2022.[ citation needed ]

Specifications (Jetcruzer 450)

Data from Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1996/97 [4]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6</span> Turboprop aircraft engine family by Pratt & Whitney Canada

The Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 is a turboprop aircraft engine produced by Pratt & Whitney Canada. Its design was started in 1958, it first ran in February 1960, first flew on 30 May 1961, entered service in 1964, and has been continuously updated since. The PT6 consists of two basic sections: a gas generator with accessory gearbox, and a free-power turbine with reduction gearbox. In aircraft, the engine is often mounted "backwards," with the intake at the rear and the exhaust at the front, so that the turbine is directly connected to the propeller. Many variants of the PT6 have been produced, not only as turboprops but also as turboshaft engines for helicopters, land vehicles, hovercraft, and boats; as auxiliary power units; and for industrial uses. By November 2015, 51,000 had been produced, which had logged 400 million flight hours from 1963 to 2016. It is known for its reliability, with an in-flight shutdown rate of 1 per 651,126 hours in 2016. The PT6A turboprop engine covers the power range between 580 and 1,940 shp, while the PT6B/C are turboshaft variants for helicopters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pilatus PC-12</span> Swiss executive and utility transport aircraft

The Pilatus PC-12 is a pressurized, single-engined, turboprop aircraft manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Stans, Switzerland since 1991. It was designed as a high-performance utility aircraft that incorporates a large aft cargo door in addition to the main passenger door. Due to its efficient, high-utility design, the PC-12 is used by a large variety of operators. The main use for the aircraft is corporate transportation, but it is also used by fractional and small regional airlines, air-ambulance operators, and many government agencies, such as police departments and armed forces. The 2,000th PC-12 was delivered in May 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LearAvia Lear Fan</span> Innovative concept jet

The LearAvia Lear Fan 2100 was a turboprop business aircraft designed in the 1970s, with an unusual configuration. The Lear Fan never entered production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Embraer EMB 121 Xingu</span> Fixed-wing aircraft in Brazil

The Embraer EMB 121 Xingu is a twin-turboprop fixed-wing aircraft built by the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer, Embraer. The design is based on the EMB 110 Bandeirante, using its wing and engine design merged with an all-new fuselage. The EMB 121 first flew on 10 October 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grumman Ag Cat</span> Single-engine agricultural biplane

The Grumman G-164 Ag Cat is a single-engined biplane agricultural aircraft, developed by Grumman in the 1950s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PZL-130 Orlik</span> Trainer aircraft

The PZL 130 Orlik is a Polish turboprop, single engine, two seat trainer aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cessna Citation family</span> Business jet family

The Cessna Citation is a family of business jets by Cessna that started in 1972 with the entry into service of the first model. In the fifty years following the 1969 first flight, more than 7,500 Citations were delivered, forming the largest business jet fleet. Deliveries reached 8,000 by 2022, while logging over 41 million flight hours.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reims-Cessna F406 Caravan II</span> Utility aircraft

The Reims-Cessna F406 Caravan II is a turboprop twin engine utility aircraft manufactured and designed by Reims Aviation in cooperation with Cessna.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Williams V-Jet II</span>

The Williams V-Jet II was designed and built by Burt Rutan's Scaled Composites for Williams International as a test bed and demonstrator aircraft for Williams' new FJX-1 turbofan engine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Tractor AT-500 family</span>

The Air Tractor AT-500 is a family of agricultural aircraft that first flew in the United States on 25 April 1986, manufactured by Air Tractor Inc. Of monoplane low-wing, taildragger configuration, they carry a chemical hopper between the engine firewall and the cockpit. Compared with their predecessor, the AT-500 family featured a wingspan increase of 50 ft, and an additional fuselage stretch of 22 in (56 cm), allowing for a larger chemical hopper. Almost all variants offer a widened "buddy" seat or a tandem seat for a passenger, observer, or loader; trainer aircraft with full dual controls have also been offered.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NDN Firecracker</span>

The NDN Firecracker is a single-engine aircraft designed as a military trainer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gulfstream G200</span> Business jet

The Gulfstream G200, formerly known as the IAI Galaxy, is a twin-engine business jet. It was designed originally by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and was produced by IAI for Gulfstream Aerospace from 1999 through 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avtek 400A</span>

The Avtek 400A was an American prototype turboprop-powered business aircraft, which was developed in the early 1980s. Its configuration was unusual and distinctive : a low-wing monoplane with two pusher engines mounted above the wings, and a large canard mounted atop the forward fuselage. The aircraft's sleek, futuristic design earned it a guest appearance on the Airwolf TV series as the X-400, which was used by the villain, Lou Stappleford in the Eagles episode.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gulfstream American Hustler</span> Type of aircraft

The Gulfstream American Hustler was a 1970s American mixed-power executive/utility aircraft designed by American Jet Industries, which later changed to Gulfstream American Corporation. The aircraft had a nose-mounted turboprop and a tail-mounted turbofan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Potez 840</span>


The Potez 840 was a 1960s French four-engined 18-passenger executive monoplane, the last aircraft to use the Potez name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IAR-827</span> Type of aircraft

The IAR-827 was an agricultural aircraft built in Romania in the 1970s and 1980s. The penultimate member of the family of designs that began with the IAR-821, it was, like the others, a conventional low-wing monoplane with fixed, tailwheel undercarriage, and shared the all-metal construction of the IAR-826. The prototype flew in 1976, powered by a Lycoming IO-720 engine, but the production examples that followed all had the PZL-3S.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LTV XQM-93</span> Type of aircraft

The Ling-Temco-Vought XQM-93 was a remotely piloted aircraft developed in the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s for use as a communications relay in the Vietnam War. A prototype flew in 1970, but the program was abandoned without producing a service-ready aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">OMAC Laser 300</span> Type of aircraft

The OMAC Laser 300, originally named the OMAC I is a canard pusher business aircraft built in the United States in 1981 but which never saw production.

The Atlas ACE is a South African turboprop trainer, that was designed by the Atlas Aircraft Corporation as a contender to replace the North American Harvard in service with the South African Air Force. The aircraft was not selected and only two examples were completed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evektor EV-55 Outback</span> Utility aircraft

The Evektor EV-55 Outback is a twin-engine turboprop aircraft designed and built in the Czech Republic by Evektor-Aerotechnik. The prototype first flew on 24 June 2011. The project's development was suspended in March 2017.

References

Citations

  1. According to airport-data.com five Jetcruzer planes got registered and received a tail number.
  2. Frawley 1997, p.10
  3. Frawley, 1997. p. 10
  4. Taylor 1996, p. 434.

Bibliography

  • Frawley, Gerard. The International Directory of Civil Aircraft. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 1997 ISBN   1-875671-26-9
  • Taylor, Michael. (ed.) Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1996/97. London: Brassey's (US) Ltd., 1996. ISBN   1-85753-198-1