GATES,PIAGGIOSEEGROWTHMARKET

Italian 3-lift t-prop promises 400-kt in '87

Right next to the Beech pavillion in the Dallas Convention Center was the Gates Learjet exhibit which was graced by a full -scale mockup of the joint venture Gates/Piaggio GP-180 turboprop, an airplane with a distinctively Italian flair. At his company's breakfast press conference during the convention, Gates Learjet President Bermar "Bib" Stillwell said the Tucson, Ariz. manufacturer, which has hitherto produced only jet powered aircraft, is moving into turboprops "because we see this as the growth segment of the market." Following the decision to pursue an involvement in turboprop powered airplanes, Gates Learjet commenced a search for a venture partner to share development and production costs. Approximately 18 months ago, discussions began with the Italian firm of Piaggio, which had been conducting design studies on an advanced t'prop airplane for several years. According to Stillwell, a co-production agreement for the GP-180 was signed between the two firms at the Paris Air Show four months before. A notably unusual conception and not a true canard, the airplane marries a forward lifting surface with pronounced negative dihedral with a conventional T-configured empennage, whose horizontal tail, likewise, has pronounced negative dihedral. Gates and Piaggio refer to this layout as the "three-lifting surface concept" and claim the arrangement produces superior lift and stability, enabling the pilot to trim the airplane more easily over a wide range of flight conditions. The canard surface is set at a fixed angle of incidence and is not directly controlled by the pilot. A movable flap-like surface at its trailing edge, however, is interconnected with the main wing flaps and is deflected downward to counter undesirable pitch moments when the main flaps are deployed. Reportedly, Gates and Piaggio will seek a patent for the three-lifting surface arrangement. Projected performance for the Italian/ American turboprop is 400-kt high-speed cruise; a 3,650 fpm rate of climb on two engines and 1,250 fpm on one; a ceiling of 41 ,000 ft, a range (at 320 kt with four passengers) of 2,100 nmi with NBAA IFR reserves; and a projected specific range of 1 nmi/lb of fuel. The six-passenger 9,800-lb mgw airplane is to be powered by two PWC PT6A-61 turbines flat rated at 700 shp each. Its asking price, "equipped with Learjet 35 avionics," is $2,695,000. The GP- 180 will feature a large stand-up cabin , which Stillwell compared to that of the Learjet 55. With 371 cu ft of capacity, the GP-180's cabin measures six feet in width and five feet , nine inches in height. "Performance is important," Stillwell said, "but cabin size is why people buy these airplanes in the first place." The GP-180 will wed conventional metal construction with composite media. Most of the airplane's fuselage and about two thirds of its main wing will be fabricated of aluminum. The nose cone, canard surface, nacelles, wing trailing edge, empennage, and controlled surfaces will be formed from composites- graphite epoxy in high-stress areas, Kevlar for fairings and accessories. Both manufacturers will build subcomponents for the GP1 80. At this juncture, it is believed Gates will perform final assembly of airframes sold in North America, and Piaggio will assemble airplanes marketed elsewhere. "Essentially, we'll be shipping parts in both directions," Stillwell said. First prototype example of the GP-180 is under construction in Genoa, Italy, and the airplane is expected to fly within 28 months. FAA type certification under FAR 23 is slated for "late 1986 with first customer deliveries in early '87," Stillwell said. "We feel our certification schedule is more realistic than [Beech's]. In the past, I've seen too many optimistic certification schedules [by some manufacturers] which were impossible to meet."

Resource:AviationConventionNews,Vol.15,No.12;MidlandPark,NJ;November15,1983

Resource:AviationConventionNews,Vol.15,No.12;MidlandPark,NJ;November15,1983