L-3, PAC SHOW OFF EXTREME-STOL P-750 TO U.S. FORCES
24 May 10

Graham Warwick 

Ft Meade, Md. L-3 Communications and New Zealand's Pacific Aerospace (PAC) are demonstrating the P-750 XSTOL utility aircraft in the U.S. as the Air Force here finalizes plans to acquire a fleet of basic trainers and light airlifters to be operated by the Afghan National Army Air Corps.

The team has shown the 10-seat, single-turboprop P-750 to Air Mobility Command at Scott AFB, Ill., and will visit Naval Air Systems Command at NAS Patuxent River, Md., later this week.

On May 24 the aircraft was on show at Tipton Airport near Fort Meade, Md.The Air Force has released a draft request for proposals for the basic trainer/light lift requirement. This calls for delivery of six three-seat and six 10-seat aircraft to Shindand airbase in Afghanistan between August 2011 and January 2012.

Options would cover another 20 10-seaters with deliveries split between Shindand and Kabul airbases.

A further option covers up to 15 of the 10-seat aircraft for delivery to the U.S. Air Force at McGuire AFB, N.J., to train foreign air crews. The contract would include delivery of flight training devices for the three-seat and 10-seat aircraft to Shindand airbase by August 2011.

Although L-3's Platform Integration division is aiming the P-750 principally at the 10-seat light-lift requirement, manufacturer P AC says the aircraft is docile enough to be used for basic training.

Virtually unknown in the U.S., the P-750 is being promoted as a competitor to the Cessna Caravan, but with a more powerful engine, heavier payload and shorter field capability. The aircraft can take off and land within 800ft with a 4,000lb payload, PAC says. The Hamilton-based manufacturer has produced 66 P-750s since 2003, 11 of which are used in the U.S. as skydiving platforms.

Production is continuing one a month, with the capability to build up to 30 a year, the company says.

Gary Upshaw, director of business development for L-3 Platform Integration, says the P-750 is being promoted to other U.S. agencies, including the Homeland Security Department, particularly Customs and Border Patrol, as well as the State Department.

"There are customers with niche requirements for small numbers of aircraft, possibly for surveillance or lift into extreme forward bases," he says.

Source: Graham Warwick