Adam Aircraft Begins Delivery Of A500, Rolls Out Second A700

Adam Aircraft is ramping up production of the A500 as the company has begun delivery of the centerline twin piston-engine aircraft, company executives said during the National Business Aviation Association this month in Orlando, Fla. At the same time, the Colorado-based airplane manufacturer rolled out a second A700 very light jet (VLJ) and is preparing to fly the plane before yearend.

Adam formally handed over the first A500, Serial Number 005, to a Colorado Springs business executive Nov. 7, about six months after the company first won provisional type certification of the aircraft. "This is great news for the firm," said Adam Chairman Rick Adam. "Adam Aircraft has moved from a startup company that makes experimental aircraft to an FAA-certified manufacturer that is delivering standard airworthiness aircraft."

The company recently secured from FAA Approved Production Inspection System (APIS) certification, enabling the company to accelerate production by inspecting its own aircraft under the FAA-approved system. Adam plans to ramp up production and deliver six A500s a month by next summer. Initial plans call for Adam to deliver Serial Number 006 this month and Serial Numbers 007 and 008 in December or early January.

Those aircraft are delivered under the provisional certification, which limits the altitude and does not cover night operations or flight under instrument flight rules.