Article from BTNews 20 AUGUST 2018
First ACJ320neo takes a bow
Assembled on programme, fitted with CFM International LEAP-1A engines and painted in house colours in preparation for its initial flight in the coming weeks, the first ACJ320neo has made its public debut at Airbus in Toulouse.
After delivery to Acropolis Aviation of the UK in the last quarter of this year, the aircraft will enter outfitting at AMAC in Basle, where an Alberto Pinto-designed cabin will be installed and the aircraft repainted in the customer’s colours.
Like the airliner versions from which it is derived, the ACJ320neo Family features new-generation engines and Sharklets, which are said to save around 15% in fuel and delivering a leap forward in inter-continental range.
Airbus says the resulting ACJ320neo can fly 25 passengers 11,100km (6,000nmi) or 13hr, enabling routes such as London – Beijing or Cape Town and Moscow – Los Angeles, while the ACJ319neo can fly eight passengers 12,500km (6,700nmi) or 15hr.
The ACJ320neo Family is claimed to feature the widest and tallest cabins of any large business jet and deliver similar operating costs and better residual value while being about the same size.
Orders for the ACJ320neo Family stand at nine aircraft – three ACJ319neos and six ACJ320neos.
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