2013 APRIL / Vol. 5 / No. 4 /
GA
23
On Saturday 2 March this year
Cessna announced that the Cessna
TTx had completed its first
production flight. The single engine
composite aircraft departed from
the Cessna facility in Independence,
Kan. and performed the flight in
and around southeast Kansas.
"The TTx performed
exceptionally well," said Brian
Steele, business leader for the TTx.
"In the course of the flight, the pilot
took the aircraft to 17,000 feet,
and achieved a speed of 213 kts.
The TTx is a nimble, top of
the line airplane. It's the world's
fastest fixed gear, single engine
piston aircraft in production - pilots
who like to go fast and go in style
are going to enjoy the TTx."
Cessna announced they
had started production of the
TTx at the Sun 'n Fun air show
TTx first production flight a success
From small university-built units
designed for remote area search and
rescue through to a massive mock-
up of the RQ-4 Global Hawk, this
growing field was well represented.
The Australian air force's Heron
UAV is utilised in medium altitude
reconnaissance, surveillance
and mission support. It currently
has a detachment in Kandahar,
Afghanistan, but one aircraft and its
crew was on display at Avalon 2013.
The military turned out in force
from both Australia and abroad.
The RAAF provided the `Roulettes'
aerobatic team, FA-18 `Classic'
The new Cessna 182 JT-A with its
diesel engine on display nearby.
Hornet and a four-ship formation of
the newer, larger, `Super Hornet'.
There was the Airbus A330 tanker,
C-17 Globemaster and the Boeing
737 `Wedgetail' Airborne Early
Warning and Control. The United
States Air Force provided the
venerable B-52 and KC-30 tanker
as well as the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
However, without doubt, the show
stealer was the F-22 Raptor. This
single-seat, twin-engine fifth-
generation incredibly manoeuvrable
fighter aircraft employs stealth
technology. From all accounts
it would win a `dogfight' hands
down, but its technology never
lets the opponent get anywhere
in Lakeland, Fla., in 2012.
The TTx is capable of reaching
top speeds of 235 kts (270 mph).
The aircraft features an optional
Flight Into Known Icing (FIKI)
system and an operating ceiling of
25,000 feet, both of which allows
greater flexibility to plan flights
in varying weather conditions.
At long range settings, the TTx
has the ability to cross the United
States with only a single stop.
During the development process,
the TTx has flown 275 flights
and logged 339 hours in the air.
The TTx is the first aircraft to be
equipped with the Garmin G2000
avionics system and features a glass
cockpit with dual 14.1 inch high
definition displays and touch screen
controls. The TTx is also equipped
with the Garmin Electronic
Stability Protection (ESP) system,
a feature designed to help pilots
keep the high-performance aircraft
operating within the normal
flight envelope. Inside the cabin,
passengers will find a comfortable
interior, featuring stitched, leather
seats and seat belt airbags.
"Being able to celebrate the
maiden flight of the first production
TTx is a rewarding experience
for everyone who has helped with
making the TTx a reality," said
Jodi Noah, Cessna's senior vice
president of single engine/propeller
aircraft. "This program has many
passionate followers, and this is
a moment we've all been eagerly
anticipating. Congratulations
to the team for delivering on
Cessna's promise, and for taking
this next step towards delivering
the TTx to the marketplace." ·
near a fair fight. Its air display was
outstanding and given the recent
US budget cuts, it may well have
been its final public outing.
From aerobatics, to fast jets,
UAVs to diesel engines and
business jets, this year's Australian
International Air Show had it all.
Whether on the ground, or tearing
up the skies overhead, there was
a wealth of talent and equipment
on display. It was a gathering from
all corners of the globe and was
met by a massive public response.
The only downside now is the two
year wait until Avalon 2015. ·
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