Two Up For Ibis Aerospace

Ibis Aerospace Ltd (stand C215) has traveled far since the last Asian Aviation, when there was no flyable product to boast about. By the close of last year, it had not one, but two prototypes of the Ae270 propjet making test flights in the skies of the Czech Republic.

A competitor to the Pilatus PC-12 and Cessna 208 Caravan, among others, Ae270 was conceived by Aero Vodochody, part of the vibrant and innovative Czech aircraft industry, just as the sources of finance for its development were drying up. Fortunately, it was kept alive and, ultimately, reinvigorated by financial support from AIDC of Taiwan. The result is marketed out of the US by Ibis Aerospace, owned 50:50 by the two companies.

Powered by a single Pratt & Whitney PT6A turboprop (1,029 or 1,583 eshp options), the pressurized Ae270 is adaptable to a variety of roles, including nine-seat commuter, executive and medical evacuation with two litters and a pair of attendants. The prototype flew on 25 July 2000 and had accumulated more than 150 hours by the time it was joined by the second last December.

Certification is anticipated in the Czech Republic in the middle of this year, the U.S. FAA following shortly thereafter. This is being assisted by a static test airframe built between the two flying prototypes and recently, successfully, subjected to 150 per cent of design loading. Confidently, Ibis is supplying each aircraft with a five-year/2,500-hour warranty for airframe and engine.

By Paul Jackson