While the training aircraft market in the U.S. more or less holds its own, it’s booming in other parts of the world, especially in China and in India. Melbourne, Florida-based Liberty Aerospace has been riding the wave with its sophisticated two-seat XL-2. At the Sun ‘n Fun show, Liberty’s CEO Keith Markley, told us about an improved version of the XL-2 called the Vanguard.
It sports a higher gross weight, toe brakes-replacing the original XL-2’s finger brakes-and the new Evolution EFIS from Aspen. The Aspen unit will be standard equipment, but the finger brakes will remain an option for those who prefer them. Markley also told us that work is proceeding apace on a new factory in China, where Liberty has agreed to produce at least 600 aircraft for the China training market. We wondered if any of those aircraft will find their way into the Chinese version of general aviation. Not just yet, says Markley. Demand for commercial pilots in China is staggering and private aviation is still on the horizon.
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Keith Markley talks about the XL-2 Vanguard (audio podcast)
