17 November 2006
The Farnborough Aircraft company has been showing off its F1 Kestrel aircraft at Biggin Hill Airport, and in particular its newly kitted-out interior.
The Kestrel – which was originally the brain child of world speed record breaker Richard Noble – made its first flight in the US at the end of the July, and came to the UK in late August. It was then outfitted at Redhill.
The cabin seating is in four-place club style, with fully adjustable seats. The large entry door is at the rear of the cabin, with a private bathroom opposite the door. Baggage compartment is at the rear of the cabin, and is, they tell us, easily accessed in flight.
The Kestrel is powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67B, and is expected to have a top cruise speed of 352 kt TAS or a long range cruise of 249 kt true. With four occupants the IFR range is being quoted as 1,567 nm. Certified ceiling is 31,000 ft.
The Kestrel website is <a href=’http://www.gulf-aircraft-partnership.com/index_flash.html’ target=’_blank’>www.gulf-aircraft-partnership.com</a>, where there are some groovy cgi videos of the aircraft being ‘built’, as well as of it in flight.
