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edsbar
28th Mar 2014, 19:10
Will be interesting to see this if it gets off the ground... Thielert V8 Diesel Twin....

Continental says it is partnering with ASI Innovation in France on the unpressurized, 14-passenger twin, first introduced by Reims Aviation in 1983. Once production resumes, buyers can choose to equip their F406 with either Pratt & Whitney PT6s or a Continental Motors geared, FADEC and diesel engines.

"We are pleased by the acquisition of this great airframe," said Rhett Ross, president of Continental Motors. "We will be excited to see it return to production in both a turbine and piston engine configuration to meet global demand for a cost effective twin engine utility aircraft."

A total of 85 airplanes were built under the original ownership, formerly a subsidiary of Cessna, before the company went bankrupt in 2013. The F406 generally flew outside North America.

Continental, a subsidiary of China's AVIC, and ASI say they will will jointly oversee the continued airworthiness of the existing F406 fleet. As the companies work to bring the product back to production, "ASI will have responsibility and control of all business related to government application of the F406 product, while Continental Motors will have responsibility for all commercial applications and restoring the F406 to production," Continental said in a statement.

Read more at http://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/turboprops/continental-build-former-cessna-cabin-class-twin#mKDoRdcXdhzTMZ1e.99"]Continental Motors plans to bring the Reims-Cessna F406 Caravan II back into production after acquiring the type certificate, inventory and manufacturing rights for the twin from Reims Aviation of France.

Continental says it is partnering with ASI Innovation in France on the unpressurized, 14-passenger twin, first introduced by Reims Aviation in 1983. Once production resumes, buyers can choose to equip their F406 with either Pratt & Whitney PT6s or a Continental Motors geared, FADEC and diesel engines.

"We are pleased by the acquisition of this great airframe," said Rhett Ross, president of Continental Motors. "We will be excited to see it return to production in both a turbine and piston engine configuration to meet global demand for a cost effective twin engine utility aircraft."

A total of 85 airplanes were built under the original ownership, formerly a subsidiary of Cessna, before the company went bankrupt in 2013. The F406 generally flew outside North America.

Continental, a subsidiary of China's AVIC, and ASI say they will will jointly oversee the continued airworthiness of the existing F406 fleet. As the companies work to bring the product back to production, "ASI will have responsibility and control of all business related to government application of the F406 product, while Continental Motors will have responsibility for all commercial applications and restoring the F406 to production," Continental said in a statement.

Read more at http://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/turboprops/continental-build-former-cessna-cabin-class-twin#mKDoRdcXdhzTMZ1e.99[/URL]

Continental Motors plans to bring the Reims-Cessna F406 Caravan II back into production after acquiring the type certificate, inventory and manufacturing rights for the twin from Reims Aviation of France.

Continental says it is partnering with ASI Innovation in France on the unpressurized, 14-passenger twin, first introduced by Reims Aviation in 1983. Once production resumes, buyers can choose to equip their F406 with either Pratt & Whitney PT6s or a Continental Motors geared, FADEC and diesel engines.

"We are pleased by the acquisition of this great airframe," said Rhett Ross, president of Continental Motors. "We will be excited to see it return to production in both a turbine and piston engine configuration to meet global demand for a cost effective twin engine utility aircraft."

A total of 85 airplanes were built under the original ownership, formerly a subsidiary of Cessna, before the company went bankrupt in 2013. The F406 generally flew outside North America.

Continental, a subsidiary of China's AVIC, and ASI say they will will jointly oversee the continued airworthiness of the existing F406 fleet. As the companies work to bring the product back to production, "ASI will have responsibility and control of all business related to government application of the F406 product, while Continental Motors will have responsibility for all commercial applications and restoring the F406 to production," Continental said in a statement.

Read more at Continental To Resume Reims-Cessna F406 Caravan II Production | Flying Magazine (http://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/turboprops/continental-build-former-cessna-cabin-class-twin#mKDoRdcXdhzTMZ1e.99)

Oracle1
28th Mar 2014, 21:21
Seems the Chinese are interested in building aeroplanes? Maybe that's why they bought Mooney, Cirrus and Continental?


"Do you really believe the Chinese are interested in punching out low volume hand made light aircraft, the money is high volume goods and rubber dog sh*t."

edsbar
28th Mar 2014, 22:35
They have not built one yet, my guess is it will be built outside of China using Chinese money. Continentals and Thielert production is not moving to China and my bet will be they will just reopen the line in Reims.

cockney steve
28th Mar 2014, 23:20
"Do you really believe the Chinese are interested in punching out low volume hand made light aircraft,

IMO, like all things Chinese, they'll adapt to the marketplace.......you want to pay 5pence for an item that should be costing 50P, they'll engineer it down to the lower price.....OTOH If you want top quality, they'll do it, at a price the West can't compete with....
The unsavoury truth is , our worker's wages, holiday, sick, maternity and bank-holiday pays, plus their employment protection, health and safety,etc.etc. means the West is probably 3 times dearer on labour alone.

They will be able to gear-up to make batch-runs and their total cost per unit will be considerably less than the West...Boeing didn't sub out bits for the plastic fantastic just because they felt sorry for Mao's Millions.
like car-parts, Aircraft parts or even completeaircraft will be highly profitable to them......look at the world ship-building trade!

43Inches
28th Mar 2014, 23:52
It would be good to see some useful commuter type light twins return to the market with modern improvements. From what I have heard most of the manufacturers have been open to the idea all along, however when prospective buyers are informed of the price they always baulk and required start up numbers are never achieved.

During the early 2000s I'm aware of at least one Piper sales person saying they would reintroduce the Navajo line if they got 20 orders, but it would cost almost as much as a Kingair per unit unless they got substantially more orders for bulk production. The reason the PA34 was resurrected was that it was a light personal aircraft they could market for under half of what a turbine would cost. The PA31 was too close in price to the turbines, therefore not competitive. The only PA31 derivitive that may have had traction would be the yet to be built T-1050 15 seater with turbines, and New Piper was in no position to gamble on it.

Ultralights
29th Mar 2014, 02:07
costs will also come down as the litigation insurance premium will not be added if its all chinese owned.