EQUATOR

EQUATOR AIRCRAFT COMPANY

In early 2007, Equator was seeking orders and financial backing to launch production of an aircraft family suitable for utility and corporate transport duties. A modular approach gives the Equator four-, six-, eight-, 10- or 12-passenger capacity, with configurations ranging from low-price landplane with fixed gear and single piston engine single up to a pressurized, twin-turboprop amphibian. Key elements of the design include cabane-mounted engine(s) above the aircraft's centre of gravity; composites structure; and (as amphibian) 'float wing' design which eliminates wingtip floats by using the wing's lower surface as a stabilising sponson.
Pöschel Aircraft GmbH became Equator Aircraft in 1974; made several appearances in Jane's All the World's Aircraft since late 1960s with P-300 and P-400 series aircraft, which mounted tractor propellers atop the fin. P-300A1 landplane (D-EULM), with fixed landing gear, first flew 27 February 1971, powered by 216 kW (290 hp) Textron Lycoming IO-540; P-420 Turbo Equator amphibian, with 313 kW (420 shp) Allison (now Rolls-Royce) 250-B17C flew (D-EMGF) February 1977 but was lost on eighth flight due to engine failure on take-off.
At 1980 Hannover air show, mockup was shown of P-300RG, differing considerably from P-300A1, most notably in having cabane-mounted engine with pusher propeller; this was later marked D-EULM, which registration also appears on artist's impressions of proposed new variant.

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