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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Altaire
mockup to visit Salina durning Great Plains Air Expo
Salina, Kan., (April
28, 2011) - Piper Aircraft's single-engine Altaire jet mockup along
with a dozen other aircraft will be on display at the Great Plains Air
Expo May 11 at America Jet at SLN located at 2010 Rogers Ct. from 10
a.m. to 6 p.m. 
The mockup of the
high performance very light business jet has been making its way around
North America. At the end of the year it will have stopped in 16
states and Canada.
"We are pleased
to see a major airplane manufacturer like Piper Aircraft bring its
newest product to the Salina Airport. It is further recognition of our
area's important role in the aviation marketplace," said Tim
Rogers, A.A.E., executive director of the Salina Airport Authority.
Piper Aircraft's
high-performance single-engine very light business jet gives customers
a spacious cabin to complement efficient acquisition and operating
costs. It is an elegant blend of efficiency, cabin volume, range,
payload and speed.
Other aircraft
expected to be on site include a Diamond DA42, Cirrus SR22T, Quest
Kodiak, Cessna Corvalis TT, Beechcraft King Air C90 and more.
The Great Plains Air
Expo is an opportunity to see numerous aircraft manufacturers and
vendors in one location. A wide selection of aircraft will be on
hand for viewing and staff will be available to assist prospective
buyers with selecting an aircraft that meets their needs.
Conforming Articles
Underway
Piper has committed
175 engineering personnel to the jet program. Detailed design drawings
are being released at the scheduled pace and top-level assembly
drawings are in progress. First production parts for the first of four
conforming articles have been produced and the company is on schedule
for first flight of conforming articles in 2012.
Tooling, Facilities
In Progress
Piper has
selected all Tier 1 vendors, including Hampson/GTS, which has resident
tool designers on site and will be delivering tools over the next 12
months. Renovation for the future Altaire production facility will be
complete by this summer. The building will be tooled and ready for
aircraft production during 2012. Construction of the static test rig
for FAA structural testing requirements has begun and will be complete
this year.
Price Point
Price point for the
Piper Altaire is $2.5 million, with a typically equipped aircraft
priced at $2.6 million. The Piper Altaire costs an average of 25
percent less to operate per hour than comparable production very light
jets. The round fuselage and new wing provide all the performance and
cabin improvements of a clean sheet aircraft coupled with the proven
reliability of Piper's manufacturing techniques honed over the decades
with the company's lineup of reliable airplanes, including M-class
aircraft - the Meridian, Malibu and Matrix.
Club Seating
The Altaire has
dynamic crew and passenger seats for increased safety and comfort. The
airplane also has comfortable club seating in the spacious cabin with
an optional seventh seat located across the aisle from the entry door.
A lavatory, storage compartment, or entertainment center is easily
interchangeable for that seat. With a wide drop-down aisle, no wing
spar intrusion, LED lighting, and dual controlled environmental system,
The Piper Altaire's interior has been styled for superior passenger
comfort.
Piper Performance
Piper Altaire maximum
range is targeted at 1,300 nautical miles with a maximum cruise speed
planned at 360 knots. The airplane is planned to fly 1,200 nautical
miles with a payload of 800 pounds. Certification and first customer
deliveries are planned for 2014.
Garmin G3000
The airplane is equipped with an integrated flight deck.
It features Garmin G3000 avionics complete with the first touch
screen-controlled glass panel designed for light turbine aircraft,
three displays, two touch screens and a GFC 700 automatic flight
control system. The improved aircraft will also have crew seats that
are easy to access and an ergodynamic interface between pilot and
avionics.
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