Ayres, the U.S. manufacturer best known for its "working" aircraft, sees NBAA as a place to showcase its expanding range of products. With a line-up that includes the remarkable LM200 Loadmaster freighter and now the LET 420 and 610 airliners, Ayres still feels right at home at NBAA.

"NBAA is a well-attended show, one of the biggest in the U.S. and a lot of our customers, the commuter airlines, come here," explained Pete Lewis, Ayres sales and marketing VP.
"A lot of them started out as business aircraft operators and we have aircraft to offer both markets," Lewis said.

Chief among these is the twin-turboprop LET 420, a "go-anywhere" 19-seat STOL airliner that is also available in an eight- to 11-seat corporate version said to be well suited to company shuttle flights. Ayres broke into the U.S. market earlier this year with an order from SeaTac-based Pan Pacific Airways, which will take delivery of the first of up to 20 LET 420s in 2001.

Ayres bought the long-established Czech manufacturer LET in August 1998 and set about developing new work for the company and certifying its existing aircraft to full FAA standards. The LET 420--a development of the LET 410 of which over 1,100 have been built -- is leading the way, followed by the larger LET 610G which will receive its FAA certification in April/May 2000.

LET will also play a vital role in Ayres' LM200 Loadmaster program, launched with an initial order from FedEx for 50 aircraft and 200 options (later increased to 75 firm orders). Ayres has taken the existing LET 420 vertical stabilizer, plus the horizontal stabilizer of the LET 610, and integrated them into the Loadmaster design.

LET will supply all Loadmaster wings, empennages and the tapered rear fuselage. In addition to this LET will assemble all 25 Loadmasters earmarked for FedEx for its European services, to expedite their delivery.