News

All of us at New Horizons Aircraft, Inc. are very excited. We have recently received our airworthiness inspection and certificate (temporary for initial flight testing), and have been conducting high-speed taxi tests. On December 17th, right on the mark of our calculations, our proof of concept aircraft, the Colibri, lifted off the runway at 45 knots! All ground handling and initial liftoff characteristics are reported as very stable. The flight, of course, was little more than a liftoff and landing to check stability and handling, but we were airborne!

We have met with our test pilot and are making arrangements for additional taxi, takeoff, "wobble" tests, etc., and will be moving the airplane from its birthplace at Massey Ranch Airpark in Edgewater, Florida, to Daytona Beach International for the maiden flight. Daytona was chosen for proximity, for extremely long, intersecting runways, and excellent aviation emergency equipment and care facilities. We will remove the wings and truck it to a hangar at Daytona where we will reassemble the airplane for its testing. After approximately 5 hours of flight testing, we can fly the Colibri back to its home field in Edgewater. The first test flying is scheduled to begin January 12. After 50 flight hours, we will have the airplane reinspected and apply for a permanent airworthiness certificate.

Regrettably, our schedule will not permit us to make Sebring this year, but our sights are set for Sun N Fun where I suspect we will turn a lot of heads! See you in Lakeland!