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Premier Aircraft Selects Flight Test Associates to Evaluate Enhanced Performance of Falcon 50-4 Aircraft
East Alton, IL, April 26, 2005 -- Premier Aircraft, LLC, has selected Flight Test Associates Inc. (FTA), of Mojave, California, to
test, calibrate and compute the performance improvements derived from the Honeywell TFE-731-4 engines on Premier's Falcon
50-4 testbed aircraft. FTA will perform engineering and aircraft testing from the Mojave airport.
The Falcon 50-4™ is a performance upgrade program from Premier Aircraft for the Dassault Falcon 50 originally equipped
with TFE-731-3 powerplants.
Premier Aircraft will manage the program and own the supplemental type certificate (STC). In collaboration with Premier, FTA
will handle flight test planning, design and analysis for engine, nacelle and instrumentation modifications, as well as the ground
and flight testing of unmodified Falcon 50 aircraft S/N 28 to establish baseline performance. The Falcon 50 will then be modified
and tested against those baseline figures to calculate the certifiable performance improvements.
"We chose FTA because of their experience and expertise in STC development for high performance aircraft," said Jim Swehla,
President, Premier Aircraft. "They lead the industry in FAA performance STCs, providing complete flight test services, FAA
certification, engineering design, and aircraft modification and maintenance."
The Falcon 50-4 performance upgrade program was announced at the National Business Aviation Association 2004 Convention
in October. In early 2005, over 20 qualified inquiries were identified for the aircraft whose defining feature is increased
performance over the original Falcon 50. The upgraded aircraft will provide longer range, increased hot-high performance
(for significantly increased payloads), increased climb performance and higher cruise thrust, than the original-specification
aircraft.
In March, the aircraft passed its first engineering milestone which was the integration test of the existing nacelle and new
engine nozzle at Honeywell's engine facilities in Phoenix, AZ. The awarding of the STC is planned for the fourth quarter of
2005.
California-based Flight Test Associates Inc. performs flight test services, FAA certification services, aircraft modification,
maintenance and repair, engineering design and procurement management.
Premier Aircraft, LLC is a limited liability company formed by Premier Air Center, Inc. of East Alton, Illinois and Yankee
Pacific, LLC, a New Hampshire-based aviation investment and business development company.
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