CarbonAero: An Airplane Well Done?

Of all the new companies vying to break open the "personal aircraft" market, Adam Aircraft Industries stands out as the most relaxed.

Unlike so many it is not struggling to design, build or fund its project. Instead, the six-seat M-309 CarbonAero all-composite piston twin is moving smoothly towards certification with money in the bank and a strong order book from paying customers.

The CarbonAero is powered by two 350-hp Teledyne Continental TSIO 550 piston engines driving three-bladed Hartzell props.

The proof-of-concept aircraft, designed and built for Adam Aircraft by Burt Rutan and Scaled Composites, made its maiden flight on 21 March 2000. Since then, according to Sales and Marketing vp Tom Wiesner, the aircraft has chalked up about 160 flight hours, gathering data and proving the design changes that will be applied to the second, production-conforming, prototype.

"We intend to fly the number two aircraft on 30 May, 2002," Wiesner told Show News. "We are on schedule to meet our certification date of 2003," he added.

One big difference that makes Adam Aircraft stand out from the crowd is the apparent financial security that underpins the company. Wiesner notes, "Our financial backing is all through one guy, Rick Adam."

Adam Aircraft was founded in 1998 by Rick Adam, now the CEO, together with John Knudsen, now the company president. Adam started with his own finances and is the sole investor.

"Rick wants to stay the only financial backer. Our company is absolutely debt-free," said Wiesner.

By the end of August AAI had sold 28 aircraft--20 at the introductory price of $695,000, with the next batch of 10 all priced slightly higher at $725,000. AAI plans to reach an annual production target of 100 aircraft within three to five years.

The single CarbonAero 'proof of concept' aircraft was designed and built for Adam Aircraft by Burt Rutan and his Scaled Composites company.