It’s been on the Internet since January, but only recently discovered in the United States. Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) will fly its 240-knot true airspeed KC-100 aircraft this year in preparation for entering the market in 2013.
The aircraft uses a three-blade Hartzell composite propeller on a Continental TSIOF-550 engine with full authority digital engine control (FADEC) rated at 315 hp at 2500 rpm. The 240-KTAS claim is its maximum speed, not its cruising speed. The company has not released information concerning cruising speed.
Hartzell will deliver the propeller for the test aircraft by mid to late summer. Development of the KC–100 began in 2008. Certification will be accomplished by both the FAA and EASA in Europe. Hartzell has previously collaborated with the diverse company on a turboprop military trainer. KAI makes satellites, helicopters, jets, turboprops, and now a piston-engine aircraft.
The KC-100 is a four passenger, single-engine piston with an all-composite exterior. The aircraft’s specifications include a maximum takeoff weight of 3,600 pounds, a maximum payload of 1,100 pounds, and a maximum range of 1,321 nautical miles. The wingspan is 37 feet. Although the company used the term “payload,” there was no information on whether that is actually useful load before full fuel is subtracted. Anti-icing equipment will also be included for a total installed weight of 63 pounds. A diagram on the company’s website indicates it will have a collision warning system.
Mike Disbrow, Hartzell senior vice president of marketing and customer services, said, “Work has already begun on the development of the new KC-100 prop. We have a large amount of test data on TCM FADEC engines and expect to deliver an outstanding propeller system to KAI on-schedule.”
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