Get a peek at the aircraft and cutting-edge technology that made the trip to Las Vegas for this year’s NBAA Convention.
NBAA2013 fills up two large exhibit halls at the Las Vegas Convention Center and the attendance appeared to be strong for the opening day on Tuesday October 22.**Sister companies Cessna and Bell, both owned by Textron, are located side-by-side in the main exhibit hall. Bell unveiled the 429WLG helicopter – an upgraded version that is certified as a single-pilot IFR platform with WAAS precision approach capabilities. ****At the forefront of Dassault’s exhibit is the newly introduced Falcon 5X – a follow on to the 7X with fly-by-wire controls, Safran’s new Silvercrest engines, and the latest in cockpit technology, including HUD and EVS. **Gulfstream features oversized models of its ever-growing product line, including the recently certified G280 and G650.In addition to displaying a full lineup of airplanes at the Henderson Executive Airport static display, Embraer provides its customers an opportunity to experience the features of the Legacy 450, which is expected to fly by the end of the year, in a mockup at the convention center.Rockwell Collins provides a wide product lineup targeted to the business jet market, including the award winning Pro Line Fusion integrated flight deck, which is capable of supporting HUD and EVS, also developed by the Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based company.Once again, HondaJet pulled out all the stops for its convention center exhibit, with Simon Pagenaud’s light blue IndyCar race car at front and center and a mockup for customers to walk through.HondaJet’s exhibit features several sections that provide intimate details of the design of the unique twin-jet, including an inside view of the wing skin.**There was a constant lineup to enter Pilatus’ mockup of the PC-24 mid-size twinjet, which the Swiss company appropriately launched at EBACE in Geneva earlier this year. ****Several companies, including Airbus, are displaying oversized models of their airplanes with cutouts to highlight multiple interior sections. **Bombardier created a cool ambiance with its dim-lit flying model airplane setup. And the mood is upbeat at the exhibit after Flexjet added 30 Learjet 85 business jets at the show to an order that had already broken the record for the fractional aircraft operator.**Honda Aero Engines announced that it expects certification for the HF120 turbofan engine, two of which will power the much anticipated HondaJet, by the end of the year. **Gulfstream is one of many manufacturers displaying a full lineup of business jets at the static display at the Henderson Executive Airport.Beechcraft decided to bring an old classic to the front of its static display, the Staggerwing, which was designed for business executives in its day. The Wichita-based company is also displaying its currently offered lineup of single and twin-engine airplanes.Flying‘s editor-in-chief Robert Goyer presented not one, but two Editor’s Choice Awards to Gulfstream, for the G280 and G650 business jets, accepted by Gulfstream’s senior VP of marketing and sales, Scott Neal (center) and VP of communications, Steve Cass (right).
