MEDIA STATEMENT - Oct 2009
FLYING THE EXPEDITION E350
Bryce Ducker, Australian representative for Found Aircraft Canada Inc, manufacturers of the Expedition E350 utility aircraft, has recently returned from Canada having visited the factory and flown the aircraft.
“I am mightily impressed”, he reports. “The E350 is a true thoroughbred, responsive and exhilarating to fly. Takeoff and climb performance is stunning. 160 knots cruise is for real. Slow flight and stall performance is truly amazing – for example, aileron authority is maintained even in a fully developed full power stall with 20° flaps – which, given the big 315 horse Lycoming up front, occurs at a pretty steep deck angle, as you can imagine. Slowing the aeroplane up for approach is a breeze – it has big Fowler flaps which produce barely discernible pitch change on deployment – it’s like putting the brakes on in the sky. The E350 has a big aeroplane feel about it and riding the bumps is no cause for anxiety – the cantilever wing is of one piece construction with a continuous mainspar. The cabin itself is protected by a welded steel spaceframe to which all the important stuff is bolted – wing, tailcone, engine mounts and undercarriage. The wing, tailcone and empennage are conventional riveted aluminium construction and lightweight, non loadbearing carbon fibre is used for the cabin and cowl skins. This strikes me as a clever blend of old and new technologies. The end result is a reassuring solid feel – in fact, I’ve never felt as safe in any GA aeroplane as I did in the E350”.
Build quality is another strong point, according to Ducker. “The Canadians know a lot about building rugged utility aircraft, corrosion proofing, low maintenance design and so on, all of which is reflected in the E350. These aeroplanes are put together with care and attention, and it shows”, he says.
Ducker claims that the E350 carries a greater load at higher speed over a longer distance from a shorter runway than the competing aircraft from the dominant brand. It’s true that utility aircraft from Canada are very favourably regarded in Australia. Perhaps we are witnessing the evolution of another classic of the genre.
The E350 is a high wing monoplane with seating for five, four doors (all with observer windows), and a fixed tricycle undercarriage, powered by a 315 hp Lycoming IO-580 engine. It is available with glass cockpit and autopilot options and on floats. It is FAA certified and in production in Ontario, Canada.
MEDIA STATEMENT- May 2009
The Expedition E350 utility aircraft from Found Aircraft Canada Inc is to be marketed in Australia by Bryce Ducker Aircraft Sales. The E350 achieved FAA certification in December 2008 and has now entered production. Powered by Lycoming’s husky 315 hp IO-580 piston engine, the E350 delivers a cruise speed of 160 knots without sacrificing runway performance. Useful load is an impressive 680kg. Designed as a rugged load hauler for Canada’s back country, the aptly-named Expedition will be equally at home in the Australian environment. It has five seats and, unusually, four doors, all with observer windows. The rear doors are generously proportioned – almost a metre each way – providing access to the huge 2.1m by 1.2m cargo area, enabling easy loading of large items – dirt bikes, 200 lt drums, surfboards etc, to name a few. For those wanting something less utilitarian, a plush interior is available. Of course, in keeping with its Canadian heritage – a heritage which has seen Canadian aircraft enjoy marked success in Australia – the Expedition is also available on Aerocet amphibious floats.
“This aircraft redefines the way we think about big piston singles, and what they ought to be able to do”, says Bryce Ducker. “The E350 can carry five adults out to its maximum 720 nm range, and do it from a 400 metre runway. Try doing that in any of the current piston single offerings from the USA. We think the E350 will fit the bill beautifully in Australia as a station aircraft, use by public instrumentalities, utility operators of all kinds, float operators, not to mention private adventurers – expeditioners if you like”, he adds.
For further information visit http://expeditionaircraft.com or contact Bryce Ducker on 02 6684 4976 or at bryduc@bigpond.com.
10000000111111111100000010101010101010101010000010101010100000001000000011001100111100001010101010001000100000001000100011110000
|