 The
SJ30 has been planned for many years, but has been dogged by problems
in
getting it into production. The aircraft is now being built by
manufacturers Sino-Swearingen Aircraft, a co-operation between
Swearingen
and Taiwanese investors Sino Aerospace. Certification of the
Williams-Rolls
FJ44-2A powered aircraft was envisioned for late 1999, but this
slipped
further. The current model -2 is significantly different from
that
originally designed, the increased fuselage length being one area of
change,
allowing six passengers to be accommodated. The prototype SJ30-2
first flew on 8th November 1996 using FJ44-1A engines. Fuselages
and wings for production aircraft are made in Martinsburg, West
Virginia
with final assembly carried out in San Antonio. Flight testing began
with
the second aircraft in early 2003 with a certification date to be
announced
'shortly'. At least 150 orders were claimed at the time.
Sadly, a prototype SJ30-2 crashed on 26th April 2003 during a test flight, another blow to the project which was then further delayed. FAA certification was eventually recieved on 27th October 2005 and deliveries began a year later. Utilising Williams FJ44-2A engines, the aircraft can carry up to 6 passengers up to 2500nm at speeds of 560mph.
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