Interceptor 400
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The Interceptor 400 was a turboprop-powered single-engined light aircraft developed from the Aero Commander 200. It failed to attract buyers, and was perhaps too far ahead of its time. In the early 1970s, at the time of its development, the market for single-engined turboprops was still a decade away.
Development of the aircraft commenced when Lymon Lyon approached Aero Commander to build him a one-off modification of the 200, to be powered by a turboprop. His request came just as the firm was realizing that the aircraft was not economically viable, and instead, offered to sell Lyon the type certificate instead. Lyon and a group of investors then formed the Interceptor Corporation to develop and market the aircraft.
Its first flight was on June 27 1969, and certification was obtained in 1971. However, without buyers, major Interceptor investor Paul Luce eventually took possession of the company's intellectual property and the prototype Interceptor 400 when the firm could not repay capital he had loaned it. The rights are now owned by Prop-Jets Inc, which Luce has a 50% stake in.
A militarized version, the Interceptor I400-M reached at least the planning stage. It was envisaged for a wide variety of roles, including training, reconnaissance, Forward Air Control, and Counter-Insurgency, as well as general utility duties.
Specifications (Interceptor 400)
General characteristics
- Crew: one pilot
- Capacity: 3 passengers
- Length: 24 ft 4 in (7.42 m)
- Wingspan: 30 ft 6 in (9.30 m)
- Height: 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m)
- Wing area: 162 ft² (15.0 m²)
- Empty: 2,700 lb (1,227 kg)
- Loaded: lb ( kg)
- Maximum takeoff: 4,005 lb (1,820 kg)
- Powerplant: 1x Garrett TPE331, 400 hp (300 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 348 mph (556 km/h)
- Range: 1,042 miles (1,666 km)
- Service ceiling: 24,000 ft (7,317 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,800 ft/min (549 m/min)
- Wing loading: lb/ft² ( kg/m²)
- Power/Mass: hp/lb ( kW/kg)
Related content
Related development: Meyers 145 - Meyers 200Comparable aircraft: SOCATA TBM-700 - Pilatus PC-12 - Piper Malibu Meridian
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