Story ID: 
Spectrum Skipping NBAA 2008 To Pursue Freedom
By: Chad Trautvetter
Caption: Carlsbad, Calif.-based Spectrum Aeronautical won’t be exhibiting at the NBAA Convention next week in Orlando, Fla., but that doesn’t mean the would-be airc
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Carlsbad, Calif.-based Spectrum Aeronautical won’t be exhibiting at the NBAA Convention next week in Orlando, Fla., but that doesn’t mean the would-be aircraft manufacturer has dropped or slowed its plans to develop an all-composite line of business jets. Instead, a Spectrum spokesman told AIN, the company is currently intensely focused on building the first “production representative” S.40 Freedom, which is slated to fly late this or early next year. Nor does it need the NBAA show to pad its backlog–the spokesman said Spectrum “has more than enough orders” at the moment for the midsize S.40 and the S.33 Independence light jet. However, the company is not shunning future events–it recently committed to exhibit at the inaugural NBAA Light Business Airplane Exhibition and & Conference (LBA) next March in San Diego. “While we’re focusing on the LBA for the short term,” noted Spectrum president Austin Blue, “we also plan on being in Orlando next year and look forward to participating in the LBA event annually as well.” Certification of the $6.795 million S.40 is scheduled for 2010, while approval of the $3.945 million S.33 will trail by about a year.