{{Short description|Czech general utility aircraft}} {{more citations needed|date=October 2011}} {{Infobox aircraft |name = Ae 270 Spirit |image= File:Ae270 Spirit.jpg |type= Civil utility aircraft |national_origin= Czech Republic |manufacturer=Aero Vodochody |first_flight=25 July 2000 }}
The '''Aero Ae270 Spirit''' was a single-engine turboprop general utility aircraft that was developed by the Czech aircraft company Aero Vodochody. A prototype made its maiden flight in 2000, with European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Type Certification in 2005 and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|title=History {{!}} AERO Vodochody |url=http://www.aero.cz/en/history.html |work=www.aero.cz |publisher=AERO Vodochody a.s. |access-date=23 March 2012 |format=Web page |year=2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606150014/http://www.aero.cz/en/history.html |archive-date=6 June 2011 }}</ref> No production followed.
== History ==
=== Prototype ===
Design began in the early 1990s. The aircraft's configuration was finalized by 1993. In 1997, Aero signed an agreement with AIDC of Taiwan to jointly manufacture and market the aircraft through Ibis Aerospace. The first prototype (0001, OK-EMA) was completed in 2000, and it first flew on July 25, 2000.
The initial design of the aircraft was projected to have an empty weight of {{convert|1790|kg}}, a maximum take-off weight of {{convert|3000 | kg}}, and a ceiling of {{convert|7620|m}}. Five prototypes were planned, two for static and dynamic tests and three for flight tests. The requirements changed and the aircraft was redesigned for greater performance and capabilities, new equipment added, a new engine variant chosen. The second (partial) prototype was used for static tests and the fourth, for fatigue tests. The third prototype (OK-SAR) first flew in 2002. The fifth prototype (OK-LIB) was finished in 2003, with its first flight in February. The sixth prototype (OK-INA) was also finished in 2003. UCL (Czech Civil Aeronautical Institute) added more requirements, which delayed further tests. The first prototype was no longer usable for EASA test flights as changes were significant. A seventh prototype (OK-EVA) was built in 2004.
In 2004, AIDC announced that it would not deliver wings for additional airplanes. Aero Vodochody also had issues with money for certification and some members of upper management at Aero were against the program. Deteriorating flight parameters and Aero management interest led to cancellation of preliminary orders. Aero Vodochody was never able to calculate a production price, mostly because the wing was produced in Taiwan and alternate production in Czech Republic was never envisioned.
In 2004, AIDC announced that its business priorities had shifted from the civil to military aviation. At the same time, Aero Vodochody's upper management experienced a similar shift in their business priorities. Aero management's declining interest led to the cancellation of eighty advance orders for the Ae270 aircraft.
=== Certification ===
Airworthiness was certified by the Czech Civil Aviation Authority permitting training and aerial work, including commencement of commercial use.<ref name="awst_20070108">"Ae270 Commercial Flight-Ready", ''Aviation Week & Space Technology'', 8 January 2007.</ref> EASA certification completed on December the 12th 2005. The FAA certificate was received on 24 February 2006.
=== Programme suspension ===
During 2008 the project was suspended, jigs and tools removed and 3 unfinished fuselages (including fatigue test prototype 0004) were moved to the Air Park Zruč u Plzně museum.<ref name="lost_spirit_cz">{{cite web | title = Ztracený duch Ibise posvátného | publisher = Magazín Letiště České republiky | date = 27 November 2010 | language = Czech | trans-title = Lost Spirit of Sacred Ibis | url = http://letistecr.cz/zajimavosti/ztraceny-duch-ibise-posvatneho.aspx | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402061223/http://letistecr.cz/zajimavosti/ztraceny-duch-ibise-posvatneho.aspx|archivedate=2 April 2012}}</ref> In July 2011, Aero Vodochody stated that the Ae-270 Ibis/Spirit program (including know-how, jigs and tools) would be sold to Belarus, where serial production was planned to start in 2015.<ref name="move_production">{{cite web | title = Aero chystá s Běloruskem miliardový kontrakt, chce tam vyrábět Ae 270 | publisher = Magazín E15 | language = Czech | trans-title = Aero plans a billion-dollar contract with Belarus, wants to produce Ae 270 there | url = http://zpravy.e15.cz/byznys/prumysl-a-energetika/aero-chysta-s-beloruskem-miliardovy-kontrakt-chce-tam-vyrabet-ae-270-682184 | access-date = 17 January 2012 }}</ref>
Aircraft Integrated Solutions, a British aviation engineering company based in Manchester, announced in August 2016 that it would restart the programme after its intellectual property and rights as well as European and US type certificates were acquired by its parent, Lebanese investment house COPS.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/uk-company-to-revive-ae270-428353/ |title= UK company to revive Ae270 |work= Flight Global |date= 9 August 2016}}</ref>
== Specifications (Ae 270HP) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004<ref name="Janes 03 p261-2">{{Harvnb|Jackson|2003|pp=262–263}}.</ref> |prime units?=met <!-- General characteristics --> |genhide=
|crew=1 or 2 |capacity= ** 8 passengers ''or'' ** {{convert|1200|kg|lb|abbr=on}} cargo |length m=12.23 |length ft= |length in= |span m=13.82 |span ft= |span in= |height m=4.78 |height ft= |height in= |wing area sqm=21.00 |wing area sqft= |aspect ratio=9.1:1 |empty weight kg=2300 |empty weight lb= |gross weight kg=3700 |gross weight lb= |fuel capacity={{convert|1170|L|USgal impgal|abbr=on}} <!-- Powerplant --> |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-66A |eng1 type=turboprop |eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines --> |eng1 hp=<!-- prop engines --> |eng1 shp=850<!-- prop engines -->
|prop blade number=4<!-- propeller aircraft --> |prop name=Hartzell HC-D4N-3/D9511FK |prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft --> |prop dia ft=7<!-- propeller aircraft --> |prop dia in=11<!-- propeller aircraft -->
<!-- Performance --> |perfhide=
|max speed kmh= |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed mach=<!-- supersonic aircraft --> |cruise speed kmh=500<!-- if max speed unknown --> |cruise speed mph=<!-- if max speed unknown --> |cruise speed note=at FL 200 (max. cruise) |stall speed kmh=76 |stall speed note=(flaps down) |range km= |range miles= |range nmi=1610 |range note=(30 minutes reserves); {{convert|1420|nmi|km mi nmi|abbr=on|order=out}} |ceiling m=9140 |ceiling ft= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin=1710 |more performance=
|avionics= }}
== See also ==
{{aircontent| | related= | similar aircraft= * Myasishchev M-101T * PAC P-750 XSTOL * Pilatus PC-12 * Piper Meridian * SOCATA TBM
| lists= * List of civil aircraft
| see also=
}}
== References == ===Notes=== {{reflist}}
===Bibliography=== * {{cite book |editor-last=Jackson|editor-first=Paul |title=Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004 |year=2003| location=Coulsdon, UK |publisher=Jane's Information Group |isbn=0-7106-2537-5 }}
== External links == {{commons category}} * [http://www.flugzeuginfo.net/acdata_php/acdata_ae270_en.php Specs & Photo at Flugzeuginfo.net]
{{Aero Vodochody aircraft}}
Category:2000s Czech civil utility aircraft Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft Ae 270 Category:Aircraft first flown in 2000 Category:Single-engined turboprop aircraft