Galaxy Aerospace's super midsize 1126 Galaxy business jet, which will be capable of flying non-stop from Paris to New York, is making its public debut at Farnborough '98. IAI test pilots Adi Benaya and Raffi Palter landed Serial Number 1126-004, the second of two flight test aircraft, at 13:49 Friday after a five hour, 44 minute flight from Tel Aviv. The green aircraft is parked at the static display, and GAC's cabin mock-up is likewise available for inspection.

Serial Number 005, the third production aircraft, will enter flight test next month as the function and reliability test aircraft. It will make an appearance at the National Business Aviation Association Convention in Las Vegas next month and become GAC's demonstrator aircraft next year after certification.

Slated for December 1998 certification and second-quarter 1999 customer deliveries, the $16.9-million, eight to 18 passenger Galaxy will have a top cruising speed of 470 knots (0.82 Mach), a maximum certified altitude of FL 450 and a passenger cabin close to the dimensions of a Gulfstream

GAC president Brian Barents claims a one-and-a-half-year sales backlog, but is mum on actual sales numbers. By the end of the year, though, Barents expects to have commitments for the first two years of production, representing 23 aircraft.

As of Friday, serial numbers 003 and 004 had flown 450 hours and 140 flights in the development program, but the firm's officials admit that they are about 100 hours behind schedule. They say they're confident, however, that certification will be complete by the end of the year, including APU, RVSM and flight into known icing certification. Post-certification tasks, to be completed before customer deliveries in March 1999, include thrust reverser, TCAS, enhanced GPWS and Satcom certification.

By Fred George