Reims Aviation at Asian Aerospace for First Time

Asian Aerospace 2000 -- Following a major sales success in Korea, Reims Aviation is here at Asian Aerospace for the first time, telling all who'll listen about its F406 development of the Cessna 400 series of light turboprop twins.

The rugged aircraft, fitted with an EFIS cockpit and two PT6 turboprop engines, comes in two basic versions:

• F406 Caravan II: With its cargo door, large passenger cabin and large square windows, the F406 Caravan II can seat up to 14 people and be easily converted to cargo for freight operations or carry a calibration bench for navaids.
• F406 Vigilant: Chosen by France, the UK, Greece, Australia and Namibia, the F406 VIGILANT is designed for maritime surveillance and pollution control.
  

Reims is integrating new sensor suites, including the Amascos system with Thomson's Detexis, to create an option of a totally French aircraft. Reims is also working with Wescam on surveillance cameras, with Bendix on radars, and with DCN of France as an alternative integrator to Thomson. The baseline F406 sells for $2.1 million.

In Korea and France, Reims Aviation has sold the F406 as a low-cost target tug to provide ground-to-air or air-to-air firing practice with a sleeve target that can be towed as much as seven kilometers behind the aircraft. The target incorporates an acoustical scoring system that can measure the distance between the sleeve and a supersonic projectile.