ALBATROSS
FLYING BOAT RETURNS AND WILL BE BUILT IN NT
written by Adam Thorn | December 13, 2021
A US Navy Grumman HU-16. (Dylan Agbagni, WikiCommons)
A new version of the legendary
Albatross flying boat will be built in Darwin, featuring digital avionics and
enhanced turboprop engines from Pratt & Whitney.
Manufacturers Amphibian
Aerospace Industries (AAI) said the new generation G-111T is an “incredible
aircraft of great and practical use to humanity” because of its huge variety of
uses, including search and rescue, freight and coastal surveillance.
Albatross seaplanes were
originally manufactured between 1947 and 1961 and used by the US military in
the Korean and Vietnam wars.
AAI plans to have the
aircraft CASA-certified within 18 months and begin production by 2025.
The business’ chairman,
Khoa Hoang, said, “It’s a long time since sovereign aircraft manufacturing on
this scale has been considered viable in Australia, but the G-111T Albatross
has one of the greatest business cases in aircraft manufacturing making it
ideal to be manufactured locally and perfect to be made right here in the
Northern Territory.
“Today’s announcement is
just the beginning as we are already working on next-generation technologies to
produce new variants such as the zero emissions-hybrid powered Albatross and
even a stretched 44 seat variant.”
AAI acquired the Albatross
type certificate several years ago, and over that time, developed a leading
team to support the development of an adjacent manufacturing capability.
The final deal was said to
have been a result of years of coordination between AAI and the NT government.
“We have also uncovered a
lot of smart people with incredible expertise here in our own country,” Hoang
said.
“Companies like Heat
Treatment Australia and Nupress Group which are involved in making the landing
gear for the F35 Fighter and we have earmarked them to make the Albatross
landing gear.
An illustration showing what the next-generation Albatross will look like.
“Also, our own subsidiary
5 Rings Aerospace working with the Australian Stroke Alliance and RMIT
University to design an aeromedical installation.
“The global market for the Albatross G-111T is
enormous and it holds a monopoly in its class. It doesn’t compete with larger
passenger aircraft, instead it compliments them which is why it’s the perfect
platform to build in Australia and rekindle our sovereign aircraft
manufacturing capability.”
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