Gulfstream Hushkit STC Imminent, Says Stage III Technologies
The mills of officialdom always seem to grind slowest when a story
needs to be broken. Stage III Technologies has come to the NBAA
Show from its base at La Jolla, California, having completed all
the testing for its new Gulfstream II and III hushkit, but still
eagerly awaiting the FAA's official stamp on the Supplementary
Type Certificate paperwork-now expected later this month.
Undaunted, Stage III will give delegates a glimpse (or, perhaps,
more accurately, an ear) into the not-too-distant future on Wednesday,
when three Gulfstreams are to be demonstrated in flight at Orlando
Executive Airport at 2:00 p.m. In addition to the regular shuttles,
a special bus will leave the Convention Center for the airport
at 1:00 p.m.
The "before" airplanes will be a straight GII and one
of the same breed with the current Stage II hushkit. "After"
will come the Stage III Technologies' Gulfstream testbed, broadcasting
the advantages of the forthcoming STC in terms of perceived decibels.
Less audible benefits of zero take-off thrust, climb and weight
penalty will be discussed by Stage III's president, Todd Simnel,
and chief pilot, Virgil Wolfe, at Showalter Flying Services' hangar
on Wednesday afternoon and on Thursday. Only in cruise performance,
where a shortfall of up to 5% is predicted, will Stage III buyers
loose out.
With the STC signed, sealed and delivered, production is to begin
in February at an installed price of $2 million. Until then, however,
pre-production kits are being marketed at $1.795 million. Early
installations will be at Van Nuys, Cal. (Aeroshear Aviation Services
and Western Jet Aviation), but more locations are to be announced
shortly.
Federal tax incentives apply to the hushkit, 60% of the cost of
which can be depreciated if it is put into service before the
end of next year. Stage III maintains that the hushkit gives the
early generations of Gulfstream jets a viable future, in spite
of their advancing age.
