NAC dominates the civil scene at AAD 2012By Deon PrinsNational Airways Corporation was established in 1946 and has over the years grown to the extent that the company has become the largest general aviation concern in Africa.NAC offers a full range of aviation services and products to the general aviation markets, including aircraft sales, maintenance, parts, value added products, charter, international operations and pilot training. NAC is an independent representative for Bell Helicopter, a dealer for Robinson Helicopter, an authorized distributor for Piper Aircraft, a Diamond Aircraft regional distribution center, an exclusive sales agent for Pacific Aerospace, distributor for Daher-Socata, as well as the exclusive Quest KODIAK aircraft and Nextant 400XT aircraft dealer in Africa.    Over and above these aircraft that were only on static display, the Quest KODIAK and PAC 750XL participated in the flying displays. It would have been a bonus if more of the NAC aircraft could have been involved in the flying displays.   NAC introduced the following new/ modernized aircraft at AAD 2012: Nextant 400XT  The Nextant 400XT is a modernized and remanufactured Hawker Beechjet 400A. Replacing the JT15D-5 engines of the Beechjet 400A with Williams FJ44-3AP engines in new aerodynamically improved nacelles and combining this modification with a Collins Proline 21 avionics system in the cockpit, made the Nextant 400XT a real category killer. This resultant “remanufactured aircraft” offers customers a much lower acquisition cost than new aircraft and residual values substantially higher than the original aircraft. The Nextant 400XT outperform all other light jets in this price bracket as far as operating cost and flight performance is concerned. Bell 407AH  The Bell 407AH is an armed version of Bell Helicopter`s best-selling 407 helicopter. The newly launched 407AH is the first Bell-qualified armed commercial aircraft and is designed to support a wide range of law enforcement and paramilitary missions. Requiring no tampering with the airframe structure the modification to the Bell 407 consists of a double floor insert that is dropped in the rear cabin and on which are fixed the pylons that carry the weapons outside the rear doors on both sides. The related electronics are derived from an existing suite from the Bell OH-58 Kiowa. The 407AH`s initial weapon system includes a 7.62mm minigun as well as a rocket launching system. In addition extensive customization is available through Bell Helicopter including: Chaff/Flare controller for counter measures, sliding doors in the rear, cargo hook and crew seat armor-plating, among others. Bell Huey II  The Bell Huey II combines all new commercial dynamic components with the reliable Honeywell T53-L-703 engine, leading to an increase in hover performance in hot conditions. In addition, the Huey II upgrade increases the maximum gross weight to 10,500 lbs, while lowering direct operating costs. With the Huey II upgrade, Bell Helicopter refurbishes the basic Bell UH-1H basic airframe, provides a complete re-wire package, updates the avionics, and offers a comprehensive selection of mission-specific kits and customization. The Eclipse  The original launch of the Eclipse 500 Very Light Jet in 2009 caused an unpreceden-ted stir in the general aviation market. It was thus with great anticipation that the revitalization and re-launch of Eclipse Aerospace Industries was followed not only by NAC, but the industry at large. Eclipse Aerospace Industries manufactures the Total Eclipse (which is the remanufactured, factory warranted, certified and much improved version of the Eclipse 500) as well as the newly certified Eclipse 500. Total Eclipses are immediately available for purchase and can be delivered to buyers in less than three months. The Total Eclipse is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada engines each rated at 900 lbs of take-off thrust and is certified to 41,000 ft, it is surprisingly easy to fly primarily because of the revolutionary integrated avionics suite which reduce pilot workload tremendously and makes for the most efficient twin-engine jet in existence. |
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