22 November 2012
Canadian aircraft manufacturer Cobalt has announced that its new Co50 Valkyrie aircraft will feature the glass cockpit SmartDeck system. The fully FAA approved SmartDeck system was developed by L3 and is now owned by Easterline CMC Electronics.
The Co50 Valkyrie is a four-seat, composite-built, canard aircraft with a large bubble canopy for an extended view, and it will be powered by a Continental TSIOF-550. The aircraft is currently undergoing a test programme and is expected to gain Certification in 2014.
Reportedly more than 1,000 customers have expressed interest in the $970,000 aircraft, which the company hopes will take away some of the market share currently enjoyed by Cirrus and the Cessna Corvalis.
The company was formed in 2007 to take the Co50 to production and the aircraft debuted at Oshkosh 2010, with a static display. Test flighting began in July and the aircraft made its first ‘hop’ a few weeks ago.
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