In a pioneering initiative, VMAN, an aircraft leasing company operating from the GIFT City, or Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, has signed an MOU for 10 new generation ME-1A aircraft from the US company Mallard Enterprises. The first steps towards manufacturing these machines, made of strong but lightweight composite materials, resistant to sea salts, have been initiated and it should take about three years to deliver the flying machines after first payments are received, ME Co-founder and CEO Dan Peabody told India Strategic.
The aircraft will be propelled by two Pratt & Whitney engines, and in a standard configuration for regional transport, it will carry 19 passengers with luggage over a distance of about 648 km. Of course, the flight can be extended three times to 1945 km but then the passenger load has to be reduced to six with typical airline reserves, Dan explained as we chatted over coffee.
PRODUCTION TIMELINES
It takes 3 to 4 years to produce and deliver an aircraft from the drawing board to the assembly lines and the customers, and Dan and his team are travelling around to look for more customers to add to the aircraft orders. They were at the Singapore Airshow, Wings India, and then in New Delhi for procedural discussions with the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA).
In New Delhi, "the response from Mr Vumlumang Vualnam, Secretary, MOCA, was positive and encouraging," said Air Vice Marshal Arvind Walia (Retd), Advisor with Mallard.
Esta historia es de la edición January-February 2024 de India Strategic.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición January-February 2024 de India Strategic.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
RTX's Pratt & Whitney expands India Operations
BENGALURU. Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, announced the establishment of its new India Digital Capability Center (IDCC) in Bengaluru.
BEL Anticipates Order Inflow of Rs. 25,000 Crore in 2024
BENGALORE. Bhanu Prakash Srivastava, the Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), the Navaratna Defence Public Sector Undertaking, expects order inflow to cross the Rs. 25,000-crore mark for financial year 2024. As of now, the order book stands at around Rs. 23,200 crore order book.
GA-ASI Demonstrates Release of A2LE from MQ-20 Avenger UAS
SAN DIEGO. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) successfully demonstrated an inflight release of its Advanced AirLaunched Effects (A2LE) platform, releasing an A2LE from the internal weapons bay of a GA-ASI MQ-20 Avenger® Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). The demonstration took place on Nov. 28, 2023, over Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, capping a manufacturing, structural test, and flight demonstration.
Maiden Indian Navy - Royal Thai Navy bilateral exercise and 36th Edition of Indo-Thai Coordinated Patrol
The maiden Bilateral Maritime Exercise between the Indian Navy (IN) and Royal Thai Navy(RTN) was conducted from December 20 to 23.
Defence Minister commissions Stealth Guided Missile Destroyer INS Imphal in Mumbai
NEW DELHI. INS Imphal, a Pro ject 15B s tea l th guided missile destroyer, was commissioned into the Indian Navy in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at an impressive ceremony held at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai on December 26.
Indian Air and Space Force (IASF)
e Space fighters, Military satellites IAF plans to transform into a Superpower in space
Defence Minister reviews Combined Graduation Parade at Air Force Academy, Dundigal
NEW DELHI. To mark the successful culmination of training of 213 Flight Cadets of the flying and ground duty branches of the Indian Air Force (IAF), a Combined Graduation Parade (CGP) was held at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal in Telangana on December 17.
Strengthening Indo-US Relationship in Amrit Kaal and Aatmanirbhar Bharat
NEW DELHI. The capital and technological knowhow from the United States of America can help India to achieve its goal of becoming a developed country by 2047, while investments here can give the American companies high returns and an avenue of de-risking.
Rajnath Singh's UK visit takes forward bilateral Defence cooperation
NEW DELHI. Defence ties between India and the United Kingdom received a boost during the visit of Defence Minister Mr. Rajnath Singh for talks with his British counterpart Mr. Grant Shapps in London during January 8-10, this year.
VMAN Orders 10 new generation Amphibian Aircraft to connect Indian Waterways US company Mallard to supply ME-1As to Gujarat based leasing company
HYDERABAD/ NEW DELHI. It's Time to Fly from the Rivers, Coast, or Lakes, to connect India's various regions, both for civil and military requirements.
