The Aerocomp News Volume 3 Issue 2 Summer 1999 New: Comp Air 8 Turboprop Flying High Comp Air 10XL ruising comfortably at 200 to 250 mph (TAS@21,000ft), with a useful load of C up to 2500 lbs, Aerocomp’s new Comp Air 8 will carry 6 adults plus a couple children in comfort and style. Individual bucket seats are provided for six adults, with ample leg and head room, and a bench seat is provided for seating 2 children. The 31½ ft long Comp Air 8 is 2 feet longer than the popular Comp Air 7, and is e thought it was big before! designed to take full advantage of the Walter 601 turboprop engine’s outstanding W Aerocomp’s new s-t-r-e-t-c-h load-carrying capability. This airplane will fly great, though, equipped with any version of the Comp Air 10 is now even engine from 350HP to 660 HP. With 237 sq. feet of wing area, the Comp Air 8 can bigger. easily accomodate a 4800 lb. gross weight (approximately 2500 lbs. useful). For real heavy haulers, optional 5200 lb. gross weight reinforcements are available. Dubbed “XL” for “extra long”, Tapered wings for faster cruise are included as a standard feature on the Comp Air 8. Aerocomp Inc. has responded to customer demand by introducing an extended length Comp Air 10. The stretched version is now 30 feet 9inches long, adding a full 23.25 cubic feet to the whopping 242 cubic feet interior cabin capacity of the Comp Air 10. The Comp Air 10XL, like Aerocomp’s other products, is built from kits sold by the Merritt Island, FL company. The company specializes in manufacturing kits for modern all-composite airplanes. The Comp Air 10XL is the largest member of the Aerocomp family of COMP AIR 8 Turboprop Photo Credit: Mr. Lou Furlong, Sr. airplanes. It’s siblings include aircraft ranging in size from 2 to 11 seats, Comp Air 8 Specifications powered by engines of 65 to 650 hp, and cruising at speeds from 70 to 300 mph. Wing Span 35 ft Comp Air 8 Airframe Kit Wing Area 237 ft2 only $59,995 US Aerocomp’s airplanes may be built with Height 9 ft conventional, tricycle, or float landing gear. Each model is easily customized Length 31½ ft Continued on Page 2 to best suit the needs of each builder. Seats 8 Inside This Issue Engine 660 hp Walter Gross Weight 4800 to 5200 lbs. 1 NEW: Comp Air 8 Turboprop Flying High Empty Weight 2500 to 2700 lbs. 2 You Thought It Was Big Before: See the Comp Air 10XL Useful Load 2300 to 2500 lbs. VNE 209 mph IAS 3 New Video Available by Rotor/Wing Sports TV 250 mph TAS Cruise 4 Builder Report: Captain Brian Boucher's Subaru Comp Air 6 (21,000 ft) Vso 45 mph IAS 5 Turbine Pilot Proficiency Certification Training Available 2 The Aerocomp News Comp Air 8 New Affordable Turbine Engine Continued from Page 1 ffordable turbine engines for personal aircraft -- could it really happen? A Have you ever dreamed of being able to afford the luxury and power of Because the Comp Air 8 is intended flying your own personal turbine powered airplane? The reliability, power, as a high performance, fast-flying performance, and ease-of-operation offered by modern turboprop engines load-carrying airplane, specially makes them ideal candidates for cross-country flying. reinforced (carbon) fuselage and tail group members are included as standard features on the Comp Air 8. Aerocomp, Inc. and Paden Foundries (manufacturer of high performance race car engines) have been researching the feasibility of manufacturing and 1 marketing a new affordable turbine engine suitable for aircraft requiring 250 The Comp Air 8 boasts a 46 /2” wide cabin, sports 100% mass balanced to 400 hp. A prototype engine is under development and will be introduced in controls for high cruise speeds, has the near future. (Check the Aerocomp, Inc. booth at EAA AirVenture ‘99 - specially reinforced oversize tail Oshkosh for a possible “first peek” at the new engine). surfaces for stability and control, includes an aerodynamically efficient A recent increase in the supply of turboprop engines from “raked” windshield, and has flush- former Soviet-bloc countries has helped some sport pilots to mounted landing gear and flush-fit thermopane doors. be able to enjoy the luxury of turbine power. Aerocomp, Inc. has enjoyed great success with experimental applications of As with all Aerocomp kit-built 600 + hp Walter 601 turboprop engines (manufactured in the airplanes, total fuel capacity is Czech Republic). Many aircraft do not need so much power, determined by the builder, who has the however, and could benefit from the lower fuel burn of smaller option of installing fuel tanks capable engines. of carrying as much as 150 gallons. (Pictured left: Walter 601 turboprop aircraft engine). In the past, the development and certification costs of turboprop engines have AIRSHOWS kept the prices out of reach for most sport and recreational pilots. Instead, Visit Aerocomp at: engine manufacturers have focused on providing turbine engines for airline and military use, leaving sport pilots with few options other than traditional EAA Oshkosh AirVenture ‘99 reciprocating engines. The new 250 to 400 hp turboprop engines envisioned Oshkosh, Wisconsin by Aerocomp, Inc. and Paden Foundries should be available at prices July 28 - August 3, 1999 competitive with reciprocating engines, while offering substantial weight savings and exceptional reliability. Aerocomp “Skunkworks” Aerocomp, Inc. and Paden Foundries have jointly invested the seed capital What secrets projects are keeping required to develop a prototype engine. Additional investment capital is needed everyone busy in the Aerocomp to complete testing and tooling, and to bring the engine into production “skunkworks” research and (estimated $2 million). Limited shares in this enterprise are available for development facility? persons interested in investing in this unique ground-floor opportunity. Interested parties should contact Aerocomp, Inc. president Mr. Steve Young While we obviously can’t reveal all for details. of the company’s secrets here, our sources report that persistent rumors Further news about this project will be published as testing and development have been circulating around Merritt continues. Stay tuned.... Island during recent months about a set of giant floats that have been built for the Comp Air 8 turboprop. The - WANTED - rumors indicate that the airplane may Affordable turbine aircraft engines be destined to soon start flying from for sport and recreational airplanes water, instead of land. The Aerocomp News 3 See Aerocomp’s Amazing Airplanes in Action — New 1999 Video Footage Now Available — otor/Wing Sports TV (of Macon, GA) The first show (#11 in the series) The second show (#12 in the series) R recently invested several days consists of a tour of the Skybuild features some great air-to-air video filming at Aerocomp, Inc.’s Merritt Builders Center facilities, and interviews footage of the Comp Air 6, Comp Air 7, Island, Florida facilities. Host Dan with Comp Air builders and with Comp Air 8, and Comp Air 10 flying over Leslie and his crew of professional film- Skybuild’s president, Mr. Steve Darrow. Florida’s popular Cocoa Beach (a few makers put together a couple 1/2-hour The show focuses on Skybuild’s unique miles south of Kennedy Space Center and television shows featuring both educational program for Comp Air kit Cape Canaveral). Numerous takeoffs and Aerocomp, Inc. and Skybuild. builders, shows aircraft under various landings, high speed passes, slow flight, Aerocomp, Inc. manufactures the Comp stages of construction, and describes how climbs, descents, and cruise flight are Air family of kit-built airplanes and Skybuild can enable a builder to shown. The 1/2 hour show provides a Skybuild is a builder assistance center complete the major structural fiberglass lot of details about these airplanes, dedicated to helping Comp Air owners portion of his project in only 12 to 20 including interior close-ups, startup and complete their airplanes in a safe and days. Skybuild’s program helps speed taxiing scenes, ground handling, timely manner. along the initial assembly of the wings, interviews with company personnel and fuselage, landing gear, empennage, and builder/pilot interviews. Copies of this The 1/2 hour TV segments are part of control surfaces, and helps to ensure that professionally produced TV show (plus Rotor/Wing Sports TV’s aviation series, primary structural components are additional amateur-quality camcorder broadcast weekly in the US on the correctly assembled. video footage) are available as part of Outdoor Channel. Aerocomp’s $20 literature and video “Information Package” (order below). “The only way to learn more about these airplanes is to visit the factory and fly one.” Demo flights and factory tours are available most days (during normal business hours) at Aerocomp, Inc.’s Merritt Island, Florida airport facilities. Visitors are welcome. Order Your Aerocomp, Inc. Video and Literature Package Today ... only $20 (U.S. orders) Clip and Mail to: Aerocomp, Inc. - 2335 Newfound Harbor Dr. - Merritt Island, FL 32952 USA $20 Telephone or Fax: 1-407-453-6641 | http://AEROCOMPinc.com o YES, please send me the Aerocomp, Inc. Video and Literature Package. I’ve enclosed $20 US to help cover costs (foreign orders please add $5 overseas shipping). -- VISA, Mastercard, US Check, or US Money Order -- (Please Circle One) VISA or Mastercard Account Number Expiry Date NAME: ADDRESS: CITY and STATE/PROVINCE: ZIP or POSTAL CODE: COUNTRY: 4 The Aerocomp News TURBINE PILOT PROFICIENCY CERTIFICATION COURSE iloting a high performance GROUND LESSON #1 FLIGHT LESSON #3 aircraft like the Comp Air 7 P TURBINE ENGINE FUNDAMENTALS TURBINE OPERATIONS Turboprop, Comp Air 8, or Comp Air (3 hours minimum) 10 will only remain a dream for many (2 hours minimum) Lesson Content: Description and Purpose: To enable pilot to conduct pilots.