The Interceptor 400 was a turboprop-powered single-engined light aircraft developed from the Meyers 200 single-engine piston plane.[1] It attracted buyers but was unable to obtain adequate manufacturing financing, and was perhaps too far ahead of its time. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, at the time of its development, the market for single-engined turboprops was still a decade away.
Development of the aircraft commenced when Lymon Lyon approached Aero Commander to build him a one-off modification of the 200, to be powered by a turboprop. His request came just as Aero Commander was realizing that the 200 piston engine aircraft was not economically viable in volumes they sought, and instead, offered to sell Lyon the 200 type certificate and work that Aero Commander had begun on a turbine engine conversion model 400 instead. Lyon and a group of investors assembled by entrepreneur and merger and acquisition expert Thomas W Itin, then formed the Interceptor Corporation to develop and market the 400 turbine engine version, the Interceptor 400 aircraft.
The plant was moved from the Aero Commander site in Albany, Georgia, to Norman, Oklahoma, where the engineering was completed for the Interceptor 400 type certificate
Its first flight was on June 27, 1969,[2] and certification was obtained in 1971. However, without adequately funded buyers, major Interceptor investor Paul Luce eventually took possession of the company's intellectual property and the prototype Interceptor 400 when the firm could not repay capital he had loaned it. The rights were then owned by Prop-Jets Inc, in which Luce maintained a 50% stake. Later Prop-Jets changed its name to Interceptor Aircraft Company, with Mr. Luce no longer being involved. There is one Interceptor 400 plane still registered and still flying.
A militarized version, the Interceptor I400-M reached at least the planning stage. It was envisaged for a wide variety of roles, including training, reconnaissance, Forward Air Control, and Counterinsurgency, as well as general utility duties.
On May 22, 2014, Global Parts Group, of Augusta, Kansas, announced they had acquired the type certificate of the Interceptor 400 and the Meyers 200 aircraft models.[3] The Global Parts Group formed a separate affiliate company, Interceptor Aviation Inc., for the ownership of the type certificate, along with all assets and intellectual property related to both the Interceptor 400 and Meyers 200 type designs. The aircraft design and tooling were discovered in storage in a barn on a farm in Wichita, Kansas.[4]
Specifications (Interceptor 400)edit
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1971–72[2]
Meyers Aircraft Owner Community by Type Certificate and OEM assets holder, Global Parts Group, Inc.
Aviation Journalist Bud Davisson's review of the Interceptor 400
January 01, 1970
interceptor, turboprop, powered, single, engined, light, aircraft, developed, from, meyers, single, engine, piston, plane, attracted, buyers, unable, obtain, adequate, manufacturing, financing, perhaps, ahead, time, late, 1960s, early, 1970s, time, development. The Interceptor 400 was a turboprop powered single engined light aircraft developed from the Meyers 200 single engine piston plane 1 It attracted buyers but was unable to obtain adequate manufacturing financing and was perhaps too far ahead of its time In the late 1960s and early 1970s at the time of its development the market for single engined turboprops was still a decade away Interceptor 400 Role Light aircraft Manufacturer Interceptor Corporation First flight 27 June 1969 Number built 1 Developed from Aero Commander 200 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Specifications Interceptor 400 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksDesign and development editDevelopment of the aircraft commenced when Lymon Lyon approached Aero Commander to build him a one off modification of the 200 to be powered by a turboprop His request came just as Aero Commander was realizing that the 200 piston engine aircraft was not economically viable in volumes they sought and instead offered to sell Lyon the 200 type certificate and work that Aero Commander had begun on a turbine engine conversion model 400 instead Lyon and a group of investors assembled by entrepreneur and merger and acquisition expert Thomas W Itin then formed the Interceptor Corporation to develop and market the 400 turbine engine version the Interceptor 400 aircraft The plant was moved from the Aero Commander site in Albany Georgia to Norman Oklahoma where the engineering was completed for the Interceptor 400 type certificateIts first flight was on June 27 1969 2 and certification was obtained in 1971 However without adequately funded buyers major Interceptor investor Paul Luce eventually took possession of the company s intellectual property and the prototype Interceptor 400 when the firm could not repay capital he had loaned it The rights were then owned by Prop Jets Inc in which Luce maintained a 50 stake Later Prop Jets changed its name to Interceptor Aircraft Company with Mr Luce no longer being involved There is one Interceptor 400 plane still registered and still flying A militarized version the Interceptor I400 M reached at least the planning stage It was envisaged for a wide variety of roles including training reconnaissance Forward Air Control and Counterinsurgency as well as general utility duties On May 22 2014 Global Parts Group of Augusta Kansas announced they had acquired the type certificate of the Interceptor 400 and the Meyers 200 aircraft models 3 The Global Parts Group formed a separate affiliate company Interceptor Aviation Inc for the ownership of the type certificate along with all assets and intellectual property related to both the Interceptor 400 and Meyers 200 type designs The aircraft design and tooling were discovered in storage in a barn on a farm in Wichita Kansas 4 Specifications Interceptor 400 editData from Jane s All The World s Aircraft 1971 72 2 General characteristicsCrew 1 Capacity 3 passengers Length 26 ft 11 1 2 in 8 217 m Wingspan 30 ft 6 in 9 30 m Wing area 161 5 sq ft 15 00 m2 Aspect ratio 5 81 1 Empty weight 2 300 lb 1 043 kg Max takeoff weight 4 005 lb 1 817 kg Powerplant 1 Garrett TPE331 1 101 turboprop 400 shp 300 kW Propellers 3 bladed Hartzell 7 ft 2 in 2 18 m diameter Performance Maximum speed 257 mph 414 km h 223 kn at 16 000 ft 4 900 m Cruise speed 281 mph 452 km h 244 kn Stall speed 69 mph 111 km h 60 kn flaps and landing gear lowered Never exceed speed 300 mph 480 km h 260 kn Range 1 000 mi 1 600 km 870 nmi Service ceiling 24 000 ft 7 300 m Rate of climb 2 000 ft min 10 m s at least See also editRelated development Meyers 200 Meyers MAC 145 Aircraft of comparable role configuration and era Pilatus PC 12 Piper Malibu Meridian SOCATA TBM Related lists List of aircraft of World War II List of aircraft of Japan during World War II List of single engined turboprop aircraftReferences edit Air Progress 19 December 1971 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Missing or empty title help a b Taylor 1971 p 324 Niles Russ May 22 2014 Meyers Revival Eyed Avweb Retrieved 27 May 2014 Mark Rob October 28 2019 Turboprop Aircraft Design and Tooling Discovered in Kansas Barn Flying Retrieved October 29 2019 Taylor John W R Jane s All The World s Aircraft 1971 72 London Sampson Low Marston amp Co 1971 ISBN 0 354 00094 2 External links editMeyers Aircraft Home Page Meyers Aircraft Owner Community by Type Certificate and OEM assets holder Global Parts Group Inc Aviation Journalist Bud Davisson s review of the Interceptor 400 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Interceptor 400 amp oldid 1151018349, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
