ATLANTA — Commuter Craft has successfully completed pre-production flight tests of Innovator ShipOne and plans to start production with six “AlphaShips” this fall.
These first production aircraft will be customer built in the Commuter Craft Facility under the Experimental aircraft category.
This will be followed by construction of eight “BetaShip” aircraft, leading to full general production in 2017, according to company officials.
Commuter Craft began taking position reservations in April of this year, and will continue to offer its pre-production special until September 2016.
The Innovator is a two-place aircraft that features a three-surface blend wing and lifting body airframe.
Top speed is over 200 mph with a 180 hp engine, company officials note. Fully loaded, the Innovator has a range of 800 nautical miles.
The aircraft will be customer built in two to three weeks in the company’s 82,000-square-foot facility in Cartersville, Georgia, utilizing factory tooling. The build process is primarily assembly and bonding with very little fabrication, company officials noted.
A technician is provided for each builder to ensure quality and proper technique.
Upon completion of the airframe, factory options are available for engine, propeller, instruments, interior and paint packages to finish the Innovator aircraft in as little as three months, company officials added.