Kestrel K-350

K-350
Kestrel K-350 POC
Role Single-engine turboprop
Manufacturer Farnborough Aircraft (2002–2010)
Kestrel Aircraft (2010–2015)
One Aviation (Kestrel division, 2015–2017)
First flight 29 July 2006
Status Development suspended
Number built 1 proof-of-concept

The Kestrel K-350 or Kestrel (previously the Kestrel JP10) is a high-performance, single engine turboprop, all-composite, six-seat aircraft.[1][2]

The proof-of-concept (POC) first flew on 29 July 2006[3] and by April 2010, registered N352F, had logged about 260 hours.[4] The POC uses a Pratt & Whitney PT6-67A turboprop engine flat rated to 1,000 hp (746 kW).[1] In 2011 the company selected the Honeywell TPE331-14GR engine as first choice for the aircraft, also flat rated to approximately 1,000 hp (746 kW).[5]

The original company, formed in 2002 to build the aircraft, was started by Richard Noble who was responsible for the team that first broke the sound barrier on land. Noble envisioned the aircraft's primary role as being part of a fleet of "air taxis" in Europe, provided as an alternative to both commercial airlines and chartered corporate jets. He named his Farnborough, England-based company "Farnborough Aircraft" and the design for the then-designated "F1" was detailed.[6]

The company was later moved to the United States and the name changed to "Kestrel Aircraft Company", with the aircraft's designation changing from "F1" to "JP100",[7] to "JP10", and is now the "K-350".

In April 2015 the company was merged with Eclipse Aerospace to form One Aviation,[8] which entered a Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation process in February 2021.

  1. ^ a b Dave Higdon. "Turboprop round-up". Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  2. ^ Warwick, Graham (14 October 2013). "In the Pipeline: Kestrel Aircraft: K-350". Aviation Week & Space Technology. Vol. 175, no. 36. p. 71.
  3. ^ "Farnborough Aircraft F1 Kestrel prototype performs first flight". London: Flightglobal. 1 August 2006. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference ainonline Trautvetter was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Honeywell to Power Kestrel Turboprop". AOPA. 22 July 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  6. ^ Matthew Stibbe. "Richard Noble's New Mission". Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference AINonline Alcock was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Grady, Mary (15 April 2015). "Kestrel And Eclipse Join Forces". AVweb. Retrieved 15 April 2015.