Vickers begins building speedy four-seater
Learning from Wave rolled into Fast4
After 16 years developing an amphibious aircraft, Paul Vickers, CEO of Vickers Aircraft, is applying lessons learned in design, manufacturing, and safety to a new four-seat airplane.
When Vickers makes a decision about an airplane, he imagines his family aboard. It's a consideration that influences everything from the materials he chooses to the people he hires. Now, after developing the amphibious Vickers Wave, Vickers Aircraft is bringing that same approach to the Fast4, a proposed four-seat high-performance airplane.
Those performance figures are design targets, but Vickers believes the manufacturing processes his company developed for the Wave will help it achieve them at a lower cost without compromising safety, which is central to all his decisions.
Vickers recalled a conversation with a prospective Wave customer who didn't want an airframe parachute. The man was an experienced pilot and believed he didn't need one. When Vickers learned the man had children, he asked him to consider what would happen if he suffered a heart attack while flying with one of them. Would the child be able to land the airplane or could the child pull the parachute? The customer changed his mind.
For Vickers, the parachute isn't only about the pilot. It's also about protecting passengers if the pilot can no longer fly. Family is the test he applies to every decision. "It's always with my family on the plane," Vickers said. "It's how it flies, who I hire, the materials, the process, everything," he said.
Before entering aviation, Vickers worked in boat design and manufacturing. Although he enjoys flying, he said his greatest interest lies in solving difficult design and manufacturing problems. Vickers sees an opportunity for an airplane that offers high-performance capabilities at a lower purchase price, although the company has not announced pricing.
His confidence comes largely from the experience gained developing the Wave. The Wave presented a series of challenges, including a pusher propeller, retractable landing gear, folding wings, and a hull designed for water operations.
Vickers said the complexity of the Wave caused development to take much longer than expected. The Fast4, by comparison, will have fixed landing gear and a less complicated configuration. The company plans to build the Fast4 entirely from carbon fiber using manufacturing techniques Vickers said can reduce labor, weight, and production errors. Vickers said bringing down those problems is one way the company hopes to make the Fast4 more affordable.
The Fast4 and Wave will share selected components, including wiring, flight controls, and seating. Vickers said the company can also share manufacturing procedures, inspection processes, and document control systems developed for the Wave. Another feature carried over is the folding wing design. The company is targeting a 50-percent reduction in the aircraft's hangar footprint when the wings are folded.
Inside the Fast4, Vickers wants a flight deck that feels less cluttered and more comfortable, with less cabin noise and reduced pilot workload. The proposed layout includes a wraparound windshield with a center pillar, overhead switches, touch-screen displays, and digital electrical switching.
Vickers also believes the FAA's Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) framework, certification under FAR Part 22, will help the company bring the Fast4 to market more quickly, reducing some of the time and expense associated with traditional Part 23 type certification while providing manufacturers with more flexibility to introduce new designs and equipment.
With plans to build the Fast4 in the United States, the company is considering potential locations for its manufacturing operations. "Workforce is number one for us," Vickers said. The company is looking at regions that have established aviation training programs, experienced maintenance personnel, and military professionals. The company also intends to establish a support network for pilot training, maintenance, parts, and service.
The company has not announced a first-flight date, certification timeline, or delivery schedule. But for Vickers, the decisions behind the Fast4 will continue to be guided by the people who fly in it, including his own family.
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