Hispano-Suiza Is Here at NBAA 2000 Promoting Engine Support Hardware

Hispano-Suiza has a very long relationship with the USA, and with pioneer American aviator and manufacturer Glenn Curtiss. Probably Curtiss' most famous aircraft was the First World War JN-4 'Jenny', of which thousands were built in the USA and Canada, initially powered by the temperamental 90 hp Curtiss OX-5 engine. Towards the end of the Great War, Jennies were re-engined with the reliable and more powerful 150 hp Hispano-Suiza engine, fondly known as the 'Hisso'. Jennies were the best-known and loved military pilot trainers of the era, and favored mounts of the post-war barnstormers and stunt fliers. Hispano-Suiza aero-engines were built under license in the U.S. by Wright Aircraft Engines, which merged with Curtiss in 1929. Today you can still hear (and smell) a 'Hisso', powering the Jenny that flies at The Old Rhinebeck Museum in New York State.

One of the world's oldest aviation names, Hispano-Suiza, is here at NBAA to underline the importance of the corporate jet market to the company, which dates back to 1911.

Though best known as a power transmission system specialist on large aircraft engine accessory gearboxes, Hispano-Suiza engine EMAD systems are also on three transcontinental corporate jets -- Dassault Falcon 2000, Gulfstream V and Bombardier Global Express.

At its booth Hispano-Suiza is showing off its CFE738 engine gearbox as an example of the technological capabilities which can be fitted to engines for corporate jets. It has a thin-walled aluminum cast housing, lightweight thin-web gears and an integral oil tank. The company also has on display a variety of hydromechanical control components.

Hispano-Suiza Aerostructure also has exhibits at the booth. It supplies Rolls-Royce (Allison) with the outer bypass duct and inner fan duct for the AE3007, which powers the Cessna Citation X and Embraer ERJ series. Both of these components are made of advanced carbon composite; the latter is the first commercial application of a PMR15 polyimide.

Amongst its helicopter applications, Hispano-Suiza is aboard the CTS 800 engine with the AlliedSignal Partnership (LHTEC). The engine is the commercial version of the T800.

During Hispano-Suiza's last financial year it beat its own record by delivering over 1,500 power transmission gearboxes to engine manufacturers, and is forging ahead with an ambitious research and development program investigating new materials. A spokesman told Show News that, "Markets, technology, industrial structures and customer expectations are changing all the time and we intend to stay at the leading edge of all of these."

Hispano-Suiza has been a member of NBAA since 1995 and is a keen supporter of its goals. The company is in New Orleans to demonstrate its commitment to the business aviation community, supporting its engine manufacturing customers as well as other industries downstream.