Utilicraft FF-1080

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The FF-1080 is an aircraft design by Utilicraft Aerospace Industries of Albuquerque, New Mexico for a twin tubroprop aircraft fitted to carry LD3 aircraft cargo containers between large airports and smaller airports.

Twin Pratt & Whitney PW-150C turbines turn propellers with eight blades, to power the STOL aircraft for takeoff runs as short of less than 3,000 feet (1 km). The aircraft is designed to carry as much as 20,000 lb for a 3200 nautical mile range carrying beneath its 1315 square feet of high-mounted wings.

American Utilicraft, the predecessor of Utilicraft Aerospace Industries, patented the design for the FF-1080 in 1991. Prototype engineering began in 2000 at Aircraft Design Services Incorporated in San Antonio, Texas. A company called Micro Craft was chosen to build the prototype, with plans to build subassemblies at a factory in Huntsville, Alabama and to assemble the prototype at Gwinnett Airport in Atlanta.

The company signed a memorandum of understanding in 2002 with Averitt Express, a freight service air carrier located in Cookeville, Tennessee for 25 aircraft. The company said it has a purchase order to sell 36 of its aircraft to WSI Hong Kong.

On Feb. 13, American Utilicraft entered a memorandum of understanding with San Juan Pueblo to build a production aircraft assembly plant in northern New Mexico. San Juan Pueblo is located near Espanola, and is the owner of San Juan Airport, Q14. State officials encouraged the companies and the pueblo to seek state loans to begin production of the aircraft.

[edit] Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 112.6 ft ()
• Wingspan: 114.7 ft ()
• Height: 36.8 ft ()
• Wing area: 1315 sq ft ()
• Empty weight: 38,612 lb ()
• Max takeoff weight: 83,800 lb ()
• Powerplant: × , () each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 250 kt
• Range: 3200 nm ()
• Service ceiling: 31,000 ft ()
• Rate of climb: 1,200 ft/min ()

[edit] References

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