"Galaxy will meet or exceed all design objectives," claims Brian Barents, president and CEO of Galaxy Aerospace Corp. Barents can say this with confidence after viewing the initial performance reports of 1126-004, the second aircraft in the flight test program and the one parked at Farnborough's static display. Zvi Shtaymin, Israel Aircraft Industries' Galaxy program manager, provided Show News with details of a drag reduction program that includes a refined wing-to-fuselage fairing, landing gear door seals, and wing leading edge modifications.

More importantly, 1126-004's speed brakes and nose landing gear doors close completely and the aircraft lacks the external test boom of serial number 003, the aircraft that B/CA flew for its August 1998 report. And production aircraft will have up to seven percent more climb and cruise thrust, according to Barents, thus assuring that the aircraft will be able to reach an initial cruise altitude of FL 390 and speed along at 470 knots (0.82 Mach) when necessary. In the flight test program, 004 has been to FL 460 and 0.93 Mach.

Serial number 004 and production aircraft also have lower gearing of the roll controls to reduce aileron actuation effort. Serial number 005 is being readied for its first flight later this month, according to Barents.

"Others have super mid-sized business aircraft on the drawing boards, but we have one that people can see, touch and experience," Barents said. "We are right on track for certification in CAA [Israel] and FAA certification in December."

By Fred George