Farnborough-Aircraft.com

[Canadian]

I've been following the development of Richard Noble's latest project for a few months now. It's great to see that someone in England still has the balls to try something exciting.

What does everyone else think about his chance of success? Do you think that it is a viable proposition?

Personally, I wish Richard all the best and I look forward to flying an F1 aircraft in the future!!

www.farnborough-aircraft.com (http://www.farnborough-aircraft.com)

[alcock_and_brown]

As usual , Richard is well ahead of his time but with, what I think is a brilliant idea. All power to his elbow and everyone at Farnboro'

We have't seen it yet but I will wager that over the next 10 years the Air taxi market will blossom with more and more Airline users realising the benefits of near point to point communication on an ad hoc basis without being shackled to an inflexible timetable. Internet bookings will match demand to supply in a way that the 'bulk carriers' could never hope for.

Depite the advances of virtual travel 'face time' is essential and the evidence is that we are spending more and more time simply getting from A to B.

For those of use who don't have our own Air transport this is probably the best and most cost effective ( in terms of total time) way to travel. Executive jet status at scheduled flight costs.

Believe and achieve!

[fudpucker]

Yes , good luck to him BUT
1) public transport S/E IFR not allowed in Europe at the moment , and not for the foreseeable future.

2) Unless and until ATC in Europe is radically overhauled , I don't think the system could cope with point to point flights , particularly if from one small airfield to another.

SO , nice try , might sell in the good ole US , but a lot of things will have to change in the EU before it can succeed here.

[Genghis the Engineer]

I know, and have great respect for, one or two of the senior members of RN's design team. If people like Bill Brooks and John Farley are prepared to invest their time in this project, and be publically associated with it, then I believe that a good aeroplane will result.

The single engined IFR problem has been rumbling along for some time. Pilatus are busy trying to persuade the JAA to change this. The UK CAA, and parts of the industry (e.g. anybody building twin engined aeroplanes) are against, so the jury's still out there.

The "system" copes with point to point flights regularly as it is, from private flights to air-taxi type operations such as between race courses. I can't honestly see a problem here.

The big issue however is the commercial one, and I don't quite see that the market is there - otherwise somebody else would have found it with one of the many suitable aircraft on the market. But, I wish them well, and hope I'm wrong on this point. Only time will tell.

G

[Bright-Ling]

Yes, a nice guy that Mr Noble!!!

He still flies regularly in his TB10 (G-OFLG) and also has an ARV (SCARY!!) based at Farnborough.

The S/E 'problem' is rumbling along, but as Genghis says, Pilatus are paving the way forward here, and F1 might benefit. That said, the PC12 is a mighty fine aircraft!