FINALLY - A NEW KID ON THE BLOCK

Not since American giants Cessna and Piper ceased manufacture of their unrivalled two seat training aircraft has there been a completely satisfactory replacement to serve the flying training market.

Flying training operators around Australia and indeed the world, are rapidly facing the same problem - what to do with their ageing fleets of 152s and PA38s which have become costly to keep in the air due to high repair, overhaul and maintenance costs. There have been many contenders entering the marketplace but most designs lack the material durability required to endure the constant punishment suffered in a busy training environment.

Named the Whitney Boomerang, the aircraft is of a more traditional design incorporating many of the tried, tested and accepted features found in the highly successful Tomahawk, namely a O-235 Lycoming engine, leaf spring main undercarriage with oleo nose wheel, dual control columns set into the instrument panel, throttle and mixture quadrant and ‘car door’ style entry.

Many are too sophisticated and complex in their design, incorporating features which are not widely accepted by flying schools for ab-initio training such as composite structures, poor endurance statistics, gull-wing doors, sliding canopies, rotax engines, canard wings, control columns, not to mention a purchase price which is usually far beyond the shallow pockets of today’s flying schools.

It will therefore come as some relief to flying school operators to announce the launch of an affordable, Australian built all-metal two seat utility category training aircraft with NVFR and IFR capability, designed by leading aircraft designer Bill Whitney and constructed Dean Wilson Aviation Limited.

Dean-Wilson Aviation now incorporates facilities in Melbourne, Brisbane and Kingaroy. Minovation Flying School at Jandakot in WA will be the Boomerang's launch customer, and substantial orders have been received from two new flight training schools in India.

Having consulted over a period of years with operators of training aircraft, Bill and Steve are producing a training aircraft which meets all the practical requirements capable of withstanding the heavy workload and abuse experienced in any training environment.

Production moved to Kingaroy Airport in April 2006 where the local council has provided suitable facilities to meet the company’s expansion plans.

Significant private and government investment has now been secured for the project which will ensure its timely arrival to the marketplace. Private investors include the Sojourn Trust and Aerostaff. Dean-Wilson Aviation became a Public listed company on December 1st 2005, and is currently moving steadily towards AS9001 approval.