What ever happened to: (1) Cirrus Design's VK30 and (2) Williams FJ-44?

[James D. Ivey]

What ever happened to the VK30? I've seen it in a magazine but can't
find any more information on it (and can't remember which magazine or
which issue).

In addition, does anybody know what's happening with the FJ-44? I
haven't seen much about it for a while.

Last question (perhaps of the blue sky variety): In my inexperienced
mind, the VK30 looks like it might be a fairly good candidate for a
less-than-biz-jet platform for a single FJ-44. Any thoughts?

James D. Ivey
j...@iveylaw.com
www.iveylaw.com

[Lee McGee]

I understand that Cirrus actually bought back as many
of the VK-30 kits-in-progress as they could.

Seems that some builders wanted more power, were
putting larger and heavier engines in, and giving the
VK-30 dangerously aft C.G.

Cirrus wanted nothing to do with this, of course.
Believe it or not, the airplane business is
somewhat litigious in the U.S.

*** Posted from RemarQ - http://www.remarq.com - Discussions Start Here (tm) ***

[bill]

In article <36c492d3...@nntp.best.com>, j...@iveylaw.com says...

Kitplanes had an article about the VK-30 a couple of years ago. Seems the
company, if I remember correctly, quit production so they could concentrate on
producing a certified airplane. I don't think it looked anything like the
VK-30. There was also an article about an older gentleman who built one of the
only kit built VK-30's, but I don't remember his name. I'm not familiar with
the other planes.

[J. Pratt]

bill wrote:
>
> >
> >In addition, does anybody know what's happening with the FJ-44? I
> >haven't seen much about it for a while.
> >

FJ-44 is in large production now, powering Cessna's. Williams is also
working on a new version of the FJ-44 , and a scaled down size
derivative engine as well. Also in the mill is the NASA FJX program,
which shoulod net results in a certified, low-cost production engine in
a few years.

[rckchp]

Greetings,

Cirrus pulled the VK30 kits from the marker and bought back several that
had been delivered. I believe they entered into an agreement with an
Israeli company for further development, intending to offer it as a
certified aircraft. Don't know how far that project got or if it is
still in effect.

James D. Ivey wrote:
>
> What ever happened to the VK30? I've seen it in a magazine but can't
> find any more information on it (and can't remember which magazine or
> which issue).
>

> In addition, does anybody know what's happening with the FJ-44? I
> haven't seen much about it for a while.
>

[David S. Johnson]

I understand that Cirrus had at one point been interested in fitting a
jet to the plane, and was considering this when they started considering
certification, and discontinued the kits.

The VK-30 was, I believe, the model that a test pilot was killed in only
2-3 years ago. He was a relatively famous shuttle astronaut, and had just
started writing a column for AOPA Pilot (was a good writer, too). As my
memory serves, he was testing stalls with full flaps, in various CG
positions, the plane flipped and spun inverted, and he was unable to get
out.

If development is continuing in Israel, that's great (and news to me).
The VK30 is the most beautiful design I can think of.

David