Adam Aircraft A700 Completes Company Environmental Testing

Englewood, CO - In early December, Adam Aircraft completed a highly successful series of tests at the world-renowned McKinley Climatic Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. "Overall, the Eglin effort met all testing goals and provided an abundance of data that will help ensure the highest level of performance by the A700 in a variety of adverse weather conditions," said Tom Bisges, Adam Aircraft Sr. Vice President Engineering and Program Management.

During the five-day testing exercise, the Williams FJ-33 engines were exposed to freezing fog, freezing rain and blowing snow to evaluate the ground performance of the engine inlet anti-ice system under these extremely harsh environmental conditions. The anti-ice tests, conducted for FAA certification credit and critically evaluated, were completed satisfactorily and will form the initial part of the overall Powerplant Operating Characteristics and Airplane Anti-ice Protection certification effort which will be completed later this year.

The testing also involved exposing the aircraft and all of its systems to temperatures as low as –40F, evaluating the effects of cold on the flight controls, avionics, ECS, engine starters and other critical systems. "The aircraft performed very well during these extreme tests, including successful battery starts of the engines at the –40 degree limit," said Bisges. "These low temperature tests were primarily for company development and the results will be used to formulate improvements to be certified as part of the Hot and Cold Weather certification testing which will also be completed later this year."

Completion of the testing, which involved Adam Aircraft personnel, Williams International and the FAA, is another positive step towards certification of the A700, the cost-effective, high-performance very light jet.

SOURCE: Adam Aircraft