Preliminary technical specifications and performance details of Israel’s newest executive jet aircraft, the West-wind 1124, were disclosed here several days ago at a meeting of the National Business Aircraft Association. The 10-passenger twin-engined jet that will be priced at about $1.5 million, will have a speed of 500 mph, a ceiling of 41,000 feet and a 2800-mile cruising range, according to S. Samach, an official of Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd.
Samach, who is marketing director for the West wind model, said the new plane’s first flight will take place in April, 1975, and certification by the U.S. Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) is expected later next year. The planes are manufactured at the IAI plant at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv which is expected to have them ready for customers early in 1976, Samach said.
He said the 1124 will replace IAI’s 1123 West-wind model. The latter plane, which is priced at $1.150 million, is marketed by the Atlantic Aviation Corp. of Wilmington, Del., IAI’s North American distributor, which will also handle the 1124. Samach said that 18 1123s have been sold world-wide to date and 10-12 more will be manufactured before the 1124 goes into production.
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