Spectrum Aeronautical is a
business jet developer based in
Carlsbad, California with its development center located in
Spanish Fork, Utah.
An engine failure while flying a single-engine
Stinson Voyager over the jungles of
Honduras in 1958 nearly killed Spectrum CEO
Linden Blue
Linden Stanley Blue (born 1936) is an American aviation executive. He is the co-owner and vice chairman of General Atomics, the U.S. military contractor that manufactures the Predator drones used by the United States Marine Corps, Air Force, and ...
. After this incident he started to design aircraft that had multiple engines.
Since approximately 2006, the company has been involved in the development of two
very light jets, the
Spectrum S-33 "Independence" and the
S-40 "Freedom", which are to be constructed making extensive use of
composite material
A composite material (also called a composition material or shortened to composite, which is the common name) is a material which is produced from two or more constituent materials. These constituent materials have notably dissimilar chemical or ...
s. The twin-engined single pilot aircraft are supposed to carry between five and nine passengers over distances between circa 3000 and 4000 kilometres, using about 40% less fuel than conventionally built planes. The certification dates of both planes have been postponed on several occasions, even more so after a setback in 2006, when the company's only prototype - a S-33 - crashed, causing the death of two pilots. Further to that, the
Global Financial Crash 2008 made the business climate for business jets more restrictive.
The S-33, with an envisaged selling price of just under US-$ 4m, is scheduled to be certified 12 months after the S-40, which is to sell for below US-$ 7m. In recent years Spectrum has sought finance through banks, investors and joint ventures with other aircraft manufacturers. In May 2011 Spectrum president Austin Blue is quoted: "We are still trying to get the programmes advancing, but it is not easy".
Advertised claims
Spectrum has taken part in the development of composite aircraft which includes the
MQ-1 Predator,
LearAvia Lear Fan
The LearAvia Lear Fan 2100 was a turboprop business aircraft designed in the 1970s, with an unusual configuration. The Lear Fan never entered production.
Design and development
The LearFan was designed by Bill Lear, but not completed before his ...
,
Beechcraft Starship,
Scaled Composites Proteus,
Bell Eagle Eye and
Williams V-Jet II.
It gained experience in advanced aerodynamic design, manufacturing process controls, financial management, FAA certification, interior design, marketing, computer based design, quality assurance, distribution and maintenance systems. During these aforementioned projects.
.
Products
The company is developing two jets:
*
Spectrum S-40 Freedom
The Spectrum S-40 Freedom was a business jet developed by Spectrum Aeronautical. The aircraft was first announced at the 2006 NBAA Conference in Orlando, Florida.
Design and development
The S-40 is expected to be classified as a very light jet, ...
*
Spectrum S-33 Independence
References
{{reflist
Aircraft manufacturers of the United States
Spanish Fork, Utah
Carlsbad, California