FRENCH LAUNCH RIVAL TO CIRRUS

24 Jun 2010

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A BRAND new five-seat aircraft called the Cobalt Co50 is to be unveiled at this year's EAA AirVenture at Oshkosh at the end of July.

Cobalt Aircraft Industries is a French company and has been working on the Co50 since 2002, becoming a company in 2007. Its boss is David Loury, an aeropsace engineer who has worked with EADS among others.

CEO David Loury said: "We're very excited to introduce ourselves and the Co50 at EAA Airventure. The Co50 is a culmination of seven years of thorough design, prototyping, and stress testing. We're now getting ready to do ground static, dynamic, and first stages in flight testing to prepare for certification."

The aircraft is a clean sheet design with the engine, a 350hp twin tubo Continental, mounted at the back in a 'pusher' configuration. Cobalt says that not does this give an outstanding view ahead for the pilot and passengers, but it also minimises the front area thus reducing drag. It has a Canard type stabiliser wing at the front.

Cobalt claims the aircraft features one of the widest cabins in its class at 1.34m, and it is luxuriously appointed with hand-stitched leather upholstery.

The Co50's rivals are the Cirrus SR22T, Diamond DA50 and Cessna Corvalis TT.

First flight of the aircraft was due to have been earlier this year but has now been postponed to late 2010. Cobalt aims to start the Type Ceryiofication process with EASA this year, with two years to completion.

Headquarters are next to Toussus-le-Noble Airport in France, 20 mins from Paris district of Versailles, where R&D, Production, Final Assembly, Admin, Sales and Customer Service are all ased.


FAST FACTS
Max cruise 245ktas @ 8,000ft
Cruise @ 75% 220ktas @ 8,000ft
Fuel burn @ 75% 95l/h
Max range 1,150nm
Take-off 390nm
Rate of climb 1200ft/min
Ceiling 25,000ft
Stall speed 65kias

Engine TCM Biturbo TSIO-550-D2B producing 350hp
Prop Hartzell CS 3-blade
Seats 5
Useful load 550kg
Load with full fuel 172kg
Empty weight 850kg
Cabin width 1.34m
Fuel capacity 413 litres
Landing gear Retractable

Estimated price $650,000

Cobalt Aircraft Industries
Airparc C
Avenue de l'Europe
78117 Toussus-le-Noble
France
T: +33 9 53 41 14 56
E:
W: www.cobalt-aircraft.com
 

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