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20 | Flight International | 15-21 August 2017 flightglobal.com

T

ecnam has gained European
certification for the next-gen-
eration P2006T piston-twin,
following its launch in April.
The upgraded model features
the Garmin G1000NXi flightdeck

• the latest iteration of the G
  line – ADS-B In and Out as stand-
  ard, and interior upgrades, includ-
  ing a new seat design with elec-
  tronic switches to control height
  and comfort, and an improved
  lighting system. US validation is
  expected shortly, says Tecnam.
  The Italian company has deliv-
  ered more than 200 P2006Ts since
  the first example entered service
  eight years ago.
  In late July, it handed over a
  second P2006T fuselage for NA-
  SA’s X-57 Maxwell electric-pow-
  ered propulsion research pro-
  gramme. The first demonstrator,
  equipped with a high-aspect wing
  supporting a 14-motor electric
  propulsion system, has been in
  flight testing with NASA for more
  than a year and a version of the
  modified P2006T is expected to be
  ready in early 2018, Tecnam says.
  NASA aims to prove that bat-
  tery-powered electric motors dis-
  tributed across the wing can deliv-
  er a 500% reduction in the energy
  needed to propel a general avia-
  tion aircraft at 150kt (280km/h).
  Currently Tecnam’s only in-pro-
  duction piston-twin, the P2006T
  will be joined by the P2012 Travel-
  ler in 2019. Tecnam is preparing
  the final P2012 test aircraft, a pro-
  duction-conforming example, for
  first flight in September.
  The clean-sheet P2012 was
  launched in 2011, and the first test
  aircraft made its debut flight on 21
  July 2016. European and US certi-
  fication are on course for 2018,
  leading to first deliveries to
  launch customer and co-develop-
  er Cape Air in 2019. The US re-
  gional carrier has a letter of intent
  for 100 of the Lycoming TEO-
  540-powered aircraft, to replace
  its fleet of Cessna 402 and Piper
  Navajo piston-twins. ■

U

S completions company

Greenpoint Technologies has

delivered a VIP-configured Boe-

ing 777-200LR to luxury tour op-

erator Crystal Cruises.

The customised aircraft, called

Crystal Skye, was handed over on

1 August, a year after Greenpoint

began work on the widebody at its

Moses Lake, Washington facility.

The 777 (P4-XTL) was previ-

ously in commercial service with

French carrier Air Austral, and is

described by Crystal “as the

world’s largest privately-owned

tour aircraft” with the ability to

fly journeys of 19h non-stop.

Crystal Skye will be available

for charter from September and

will be managed by Swiss busi-

ness aviation services provider

Comlux Aviation under an Aru-

ban aircraft operator’s certificate.

Greenpoint executive vice-

president Bret Neely says the goal

of the refurbishment project was

to create a luxurious and func-

tional interior in the style of Crys-

tal’s cruise ships. The 777 is de-

signed for 88 passengers, each

with a luxury full-flat seat. A sep-

arate lounge area features a bar,

sofas, dining tables and other pre-

mium details, says Greenpoint.

The Zodiac Aerospace subsidi-

ary has, meanwhile, secured a

contract for a BBJ 787-8 modifica-

tion from an undisclosed custom-

er. The aircraft will be delivered

in early 2018, and the project is

expected to be completed by the

end of next year, says Greenpoint.

The deal brings to six the total

number of VIP Dreamliner con-

version contracts awarded to

Greenpoint – five -8s and a -9.

The company handed over the

world’s first VVIP-configured -

to its private owner in 2016 and

is working on four more aircraft.

Boeing has sold 10 BBJ 787s to

date – eight -8s and a pair of -9s –

of which it has delivered seven. ■

P

iper Aircraft has recorded a

30% increase in deliveries of

its business and general aviation

aircraft family for the second quar-

ter of 2017, thanks to strong per-

formance from the single-engined

Archer and M600, and its recent

decision to adopt a build-to-order

strategy for its nine-strong line-up.

For the three months ended 30

June, the Vero Beach, Florida-

based manufacturer delivered 32

single- and twin-engined aircraft,

compared with 19 units for the

same period last year. Revenues

climbed to $52.1 million – up

$10.7 million from the second

quarter of 2016.

Demand for its two-seat Archer

DX/TX from the global training

market resulted in a delivery in-

crease for the all-metal piston-sin-

gle pair of more than 200%, says

Piper. Demonstration tours of Eu-

rope and Africa in May and June

also led to “better-than-expected

sales” of the top-of-the-range

M600 single-engined turboprop.

“Our commitment to a made-

to-order approach has been a key

differentiator and is contributing

to Piper’s success,” says company

president Simon Caldecott.

“In the second half of the year,

we anticipate continued strong

performance across our product

line with a strategic focus on both

Europe and Latin America.” ■

VALIDATION
KATE SARSFIELD LONDON

Certification for

next-generation

Tecnam P2006T

COMPLETION KATE SARSFIELD LONDON

Crystal adds sparkle with its

luxury 777-200LR widebody

Former Air Austral-operated commercial airliner was refurbished by Greenpoint Technologies

Demonstration tours

have boosted orders

for M600 turboprop

The new interior boasts lounge with a bar, sofas and dining tables

Greenpoint Technologies

RESULTS KATE SARSFIELD LONDON

Piper’s second-quarter sales take off

Piper Aircraft