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Old January 29th 08, 07:35 PM posted to rec.aviation.piloting
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Default Twice as fast for less gas

kontiki wrote:
Phil J wrote:
On Jan 29, 11:15 am, "Neil Gould" wrote:
Recently, Phil J posted:

http://www.airspacemag.com/issues/20...y_turbines.php
Very interesting article, and given Gerry Merrill's credentials, quite
plausible. Unfortunately, it isn't surprising that he has repeatedly run
into the wall presented by a market too small to support such a project.
The notion seems to be, "If we build it... they still won't come."
Remember the BD-5?

Neil


Yeah, it's an interesting concept. I suspect the dollar amounts he
mentions are way optimistic though. I don't think his engine would be
any cheaper than a turbine engine like the PT6A. Lancair has a 4-
place kit powered by a PT6A, and they estimate the total cost at
$750,000 to $1,000,000. And that is for a kit. Still, the VLJs have
proven there is a market for small jets. Maybe there is a market for
even smaller jets.

Phil


This is all very possible. The brick wall will be the certification
costs and insurance issues. I hope it will happen because we need
things like this to keep GA a viable segment of the economy and
aviation in general.


The brick wall will be finding a market for the engines to cover all
the R&D, certification, etc. costs such that the engine costs aren't
a killer.

--
Jim Pennino

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