Could be an opportunity for the risky type. Even though the aircraft isn’t supported by factory, the OEM’s can still support most of the systems directly. The bankruptcy will scare away most regular buyers, so prices will probably drop even more. These things burn 65gal/hr and do 370kts up high, which is pretty economical.
One Aviation, the company Alan Klapmeier forged from a merger of his turboprop development venture Kestrel Aviation and jet producer Eclipse Aerospace, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
They call it restructuring but I wonder if this is the end for the Kestrel TP and, much more importantly, for all the Eclipse owners out there who are pretty well tied to the company in maintenance/airworthiness terms?
The TPE’s are about $250K for 5400hr TBO’s, so it’s a considerable saving. They have same HSI’s a PT6, 1800hrs. P&W have taken full advantage of the fact that they’re the only guys in town on new models. They could use a little competition again.
Is TP engine maintenance a relevant cost?
A PT6 costs about $300k and does 3600hrs. That is $83/hr which is about 1/10 of the DOC of say a TBM on a 200hrs/year basis, very roughly speaking. Saving 10% off that is utterly insignificant. The Eurocontrol route charges will be several times more than the saving…
Last I heard, Epic was subject to litigation by kit buyers some of who were waiting for engines and other stuff. Maybe that’s been sorted now. Epic certainly had some amazingly specced models. The Dynasty looked great and they had a smaller version with 1200HP on the front of it 
If it ever comes to market, it will outclass the competition in fuel economy and probably operating cost. Simply a fact that the Honeywell/TPE is about 20% more fuel efficient than a PT6 and costs less to maintain. But the market in that segment is getting crowded – by that time the similar looking Epic will probably be certified as well.
The Kestrel will fall right between the TBM and the PC-12, and I guess that’s not coincedence. Not as bulky and big as the PC-12, but 8 seats and fast. If that plane is ever certified it will for sure take a part of the market of both these planes.
About the small jet business I don’t know much. I like the Cessna Mustang best, I admit. But I’d buy a used CJ3 if I needed such a thing and invest the rest of the money in fuel and maintenance. But first I have to develop a mission ;-) … (and look for a buyer for the company :-))
I don’t give much chance to the Eclipse and don’t think the new company has proven anything yet. Everything they’ve delivered so far is basically assembled from existing parts they got as part of the bankruptcy takeover. Also I consider a tiny jet with two engines to be rather pointless.
The Kestrel is more interesting. The TBM has been without any competition for many years. There is no other fast SET with good range and this is reflected by the price list of Socata (sorry, “Daher”). I’m sure the market could use another vendor.
I have known Alan K. for some twenty years from when he let me fly the first SR20 prototype, and I always had the impression that he is no “gambler” but a serious aviation enthusiast/entrepreneur, something like a Steve Jobs of aviation :-) I am pretty sure that he is serious about certifying the Kestrel, but if you see how expensive it was the SR20/22 you get an idea how much money has to be spent to get the Kestrel going … We will see in some years,
I think it will be good for the two businesses. For Eclipse it brings some much needed prior aviation experience with Klapmeier and it may help fund some of Kestrel but more likely make it easier for Kestrel to fundraise (it’s always easier to raise money when you don’t need it!).
The stability of companies producing these new aircraft are always an issue for potential customers and their combining should help concerns.
I wonder whether this is a US-type “merger” (i.e. a takeover but you can’t use that word anymore) or a strategic merger of some sort?
The Kestrel project got a lot of local govt funding but seems to have stalled for some years, due to a lack of money. One ferry pilot who flew it said it totally outclassed a TBM, but he flew an unpressurised prototype and AFAIK they never got as far as having a pressurised aircraft. I asked one guy involved with the project to comment here but he refused.
Eclipse in the meantime seem to have get a reasonable business going, buying up the original planes and sorting them out so they actually work as originally claimed. They are said to be very good now. Whether Eclipse have enough spare cash to take the Kestrel forward I find hard to believe.
I guess the two planes are complementary, to a degree.
