Kestrel JP10
Encyclopedia
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The Kestrel JP10 is a high-performance single turboprop-engined all-composite six-seat aircraft.
The prototype first flew on July 29, 2006. As of April 2010, the prototype, registered N352F, had logged about 260 hours.
Its layout is low-wing with tailplanes mid-set on a single fin. The tricycle undercarriage is fully retractable. Its construction uses composites incorporating carbon fibers
. The engine that has been powering the prototype is a Pratt & Whitney PT6-67A turboprop flat rated to 1000 hp. In 2011 the company selected the Honeywell TPE331-14GR engine as first choice for the aircraft, also flat rated to 1000 hp.
The company formed in 2002 to build the aircraft was started by Richard Noble
who was responsible for the team that first broke the sound barrier on land
. Noble envisioned the aircraft's primary role as being part of the fleet of “air taxis
” flying over Europe that provide an alternative to both commercial airlines and chartered corporate jets. Noble named his Farnborough, England
based company “Farnborough Aircraft” and the design for the then designated “F1” was detailed.
The name of the company has since been changed to Kestrel Aircraft Company and the aircraft’s designation was changed from “F1” to “JP100” and is now the “JP10”.
The cabin features a club-seating arrangement, a toilet, (or a possible seventh seat), and a baggage compartment in the pressurized area. In the cockpit, side window pillars are eliminated for a more unobstructed view for the pilot.
Farnborough Aircraft formed a business alliance with Epic Aircraft
to develop both companies aircraft and as a result the JP10 appears similar to the Epic LT
. The wing is reportedly the same, while the Kestrel’s fuselage is 20 inches longer than the Epic’s. The fuselage is also slightly wider and has a 27% greater volume. The window and door arrangement on the left side of the aircraft is noticeably different.
Alan Klapmeier, founder of Cirrus Aircraft Corporation, has joined with British businessman Anthony Galley and others in the renamed Kestrel Aircraft Company.
A business relationship has been formed with Liberty Aerospace
of Melbourne, Florida
to provide assistance with Toray carbon fiber components.
The wing is to be redesigned to improve stall characteristics and ease of construction, most likely eliminating the wing’s planform elliptical leading edge.
Kestrel Aircraft’s Adrian Norris reported that the company is ready to freeze the design and build conformal prototypes in efforts to seek part-23 certification.
On July 23, 2010 Kestrel Aircraft announced that they will be relocating to large, relatively newly built hangars at the soon to be closed Brunswick Naval Air Station in Brunswick, Maine
. The company will receive some local financial assistance in exchange for an anticipated eventual creation of some 300 jobs.
General characteristics
Performance
The Kestrel JP10 is a high-performance single turboprop-engined all-composite six-seat aircraft.
The prototype first flew on July 29, 2006. As of April 2010, the prototype, registered N352F, had logged about 260 hours.
Its layout is low-wing with tailplanes mid-set on a single fin. The tricycle undercarriage is fully retractable. Its construction uses composites incorporating carbon fibers
Carbon fiber
Carbon fiber, alternatively graphite fiber, carbon graphite or CF, is a material consisting of fibers about 5–10 μm in diameter and composed mostly of carbon atoms. The carbon atoms are bonded together in crystals that are more or less aligned parallel to the long axis of the fiber...
. The engine that has been powering the prototype is a Pratt & Whitney PT6-67A turboprop flat rated to 1000 hp. In 2011 the company selected the Honeywell TPE331-14GR engine as first choice for the aircraft, also flat rated to 1000 hp.
The company formed in 2002 to build the aircraft was started by Richard Noble
Richard Noble
Richard Noble, OBE was the holder of the land speed record between 1983 and 1997, and was the project director of ThrustSSC, the vehicle which holds the current land speed record, set at Black Rock Desert, Nevada in 1997....
who was responsible for the team that first broke the sound barrier on land
ThrustSSC
ThrustSSC, also spelt Thrust SSC by secondary sources, is a British jet-propelled car developed by Richard Noble, Glynne Bowsher, Ron Ayers and Jeremy Bliss....
. Noble envisioned the aircraft's primary role as being part of the fleet of “air taxis
Air taxi
An air taxi is an air charter passenger or cargo aircraft which operates on an on-demand basis.-Regulation:In the United States, air taxi and air charter operations are governed by Part 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations , unlike the larger scheduled air carriers which are governed by more...
” flying over Europe that provide an alternative to both commercial airlines and chartered corporate jets. Noble named his Farnborough, England
Farnborough, Hampshire
-History:Name changes: Ferneberga ; Farnburghe, Farenberg ; Farnborowe, Fremborough, Fameborough .Tower Hill, Cove: There is substantial evidence...
based company “Farnborough Aircraft” and the design for the then designated “F1” was detailed.
The name of the company has since been changed to Kestrel Aircraft Company and the aircraft’s designation was changed from “F1” to “JP100” and is now the “JP10”.
Prototype
The carbon-fiber composite construction allows a lower drag shape than does all-metal construction. The wing is also of carbon-fiber construction and features a high lift laminar flow design worked out mostly by British aerodynamicist Dr. Gordon Robinson.The cabin features a club-seating arrangement, a toilet, (or a possible seventh seat), and a baggage compartment in the pressurized area. In the cockpit, side window pillars are eliminated for a more unobstructed view for the pilot.
Farnborough Aircraft formed a business alliance with Epic Aircraft
Epic Aircraft
Epic Aircraft is a general aviation aircraft manufacturer in Bend, Oregon. The company offered three high performance kit aircraft models and was in the process of developing two certified models when it entered bankruptcy in late 2009. It has since reopened under new ownership with a focus on...
to develop both companies aircraft and as a result the JP10 appears similar to the Epic LT
Epic LT Dynasty
- See also :*Kestrel JP10*Extra EA-400*Pilatus_PC-12*Piper Meridian*Socata TBM-External links:*...
. The wing is reportedly the same, while the Kestrel’s fuselage is 20 inches longer than the Epic’s. The fuselage is also slightly wider and has a 27% greater volume. The window and door arrangement on the left side of the aircraft is noticeably different.
Developments
A business partnership formed to complete the Kestrel’s development named the Gulf Aircraft Partnership and located in the UAE did not proceed.Alan Klapmeier, founder of Cirrus Aircraft Corporation, has joined with British businessman Anthony Galley and others in the renamed Kestrel Aircraft Company.
A business relationship has been formed with Liberty Aerospace
Liberty Aerospace
Liberty Aerospace is a manufacturer of general aviation aircraft based in Melbourne, Florida.The company produces one model, the Liberty XL2, an advanced two-seat touring aircraft based on the British-designed Europa homebuilt airplane...
of Melbourne, Florida
Melbourne, Florida
Melbourne is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. As of 2009, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 78,323. The municipal area is the second largest by size and by population in the county. Melbourne is a principal city of the Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville, Florida...
to provide assistance with Toray carbon fiber components.
The wing is to be redesigned to improve stall characteristics and ease of construction, most likely eliminating the wing’s planform elliptical leading edge.
Kestrel Aircraft’s Adrian Norris reported that the company is ready to freeze the design and build conformal prototypes in efforts to seek part-23 certification.
On July 23, 2010 Kestrel Aircraft announced that they will be relocating to large, relatively newly built hangars at the soon to be closed Brunswick Naval Air Station in Brunswick, Maine
Brunswick, Maine
Brunswick is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 20,278 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Portland-South Portland-Biddeford metropolitan area. Brunswick is home to Bowdoin College, the Bowdoin College Museum of Art, the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum, , and the...
. The company will receive some local financial assistance in exchange for an anticipated eventual creation of some 300 jobs.
Specifications (Kestrel JP10)
Reference: Kestrel website (cached version)General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Capacity: five to six passengers
- Length: 37.4 feet (11.40 m)
- Wingspan: 43.0 feet (13.11 m)
- Height: 12.6 feet (3.84 m)
- Wing area: 67.9 ft² (56.66 m²)
- Empty weight: 1414 lb (2343 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 8,000 lb (3,628 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 300 approx US gallons (1222 l)
- Pressurization 7.5 psi, providing a maximum cabin altitude of 6500 feet (1,981.2 m) at FL 310
Performance
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67A
- Powerplant: 1 × Honeywell TPE331-14GR
- Maximum speed: 422 knots (827.1 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 380 knots (744.7 km/h)
- Stall speed: 53 knots (103.9 km/h)
- Range: 2344 nm (3444 km)(Target NBAANational Business Aviation AssociationNational Business Aviation Association or NBAA, is a non-profit and nonpartisan 5016 corporation based in Washington, DC, United States. The Association represents more than 8,000 companies....
range with reserves, with 600 lbs,900 kn) - Rate of climb: 6577ft/min (80 m/s)
- Maximum Ceiling: 31,000 feet (9450 m)
See also
- Epic LT DynastyEpic LT Dynasty- See also :*Kestrel JP10*Extra EA-400*Pilatus_PC-12*Piper Meridian*Socata TBM-External links:*...
- Extra EA-500
- Pilatus PC-12Pilatus PC-12The Pilatus PC-12 is a single-engine turboprop passenger and cargo aircraft manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. The main market for the aircraft is corporate transport and regional airliner operators.-Design and development:...
- Piper Meridian
- Socata TBMSocata TBM|-See also:-References:* Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0 7106 2537 5....
- Beechcraft BonanzaBeechcraft BonanzaThe Beechcraft Bonanza is an American general aviation aircraft introduced in 1947 by The Beech Aircraft Corporation of Wichita, Kansas. , it is still being produced by Hawker Beechcraft, and has been in continuous production longer than any other airplane in history...
with turbine powerplant upgrades