Paris Air Show
Aerospace |
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The Master
of Ayres Corporation
Ayres' company also builds thousands of parts for Boeing, the fuselage for McDonnell Douglas' MD500 and 600 helicopter and produces assemblies for the C-17 in addition to cargo doors for Federal Express.
Ayres has been even busier since developing the Loadmaster aircraft, a powerful fuel-efficient cargo aircraft powered by a CTP-800 Propulsion System that couples two engines through a single propeller. The Ayres Loadmaster cargo plane is about the size of a DC-3 but can haul up to 8,800 pounds of cargo into small airfields. Loadmaster power is provided by two 1,200 hp LHTEC CTP800 turboshaft engines driving a single, 13-foot diameter Hamilton Standard prop through a combination gearbox manufacturer by Allison Engine Company. To demonstrate the new clout of Ayres, Allied Signal announced its LHTEC order for Ayres engines at the Air Show with a value of $100 million. People are starting to notice. Several months ago, Ayres stunned an industry that largely had not heard of the company. The occasion was an announcement that Federal Express was placing a firm order for 50 Ayres Loadmasters with options for another 200. Ayres says that even though the Federal Express order will account for only half of the production of four a month, prospective buyers are already pushing for delivery positions. Fed Ex plans to use the aircraft to carry 1,200-pound container loads on the aircraft. The Loadmaster can haul 7,500 pounds of cargo over 600 nautical miles, or 6,000 pounds over 1,000 miles. While a prototype version awaits its birth in 18 months, a model of the Loadmaster is displayed inside the Ayres Corp. Paris Air Show exhibit, where the aircraft makes its debut.
Ayres was understandably delighted with the recent attention his company has gained. "I've been coming to the Paris Air Show for 30-some-odd years, but this is the first time I've ever exhibited anything. This year's show is going great." Though drowned by the sounds of international exhibitors, Ayres' words rolled off in a distinctively Georgia accent when he spoke of his most recent customer. On Tuesday afternoon, Corporate Air executives walked up to the Ayres exhibit and struck a deal for 10 firm and 20 options of the Loadmaster. Reflecting upon all the excitement the Paris Air Show has created for the company, Justin Hilde, Ayres Corp. marketing assistant, said, "We didn't anticipate all this so we're overwhelmed." Overwhelmed with nothing but good news. Especially with cargo planes worth $4 million a piece. Ayres says he sees a market for 600 aircraft by the year 2010. |
Paris (June 19,
1997) -- By just talking to Fred Ayres, one can tell he's a down-to-earth
man who loves what he does. Since acquiring Thrush aircraft from Rockwell
in 1977, the president and CEO of Ayres Corp. has been turning out 50 to
70 aircraft a year and today supports more than 2,000 cropdusters around
the world.
The LM200 Loadmaster
is available in four configurations as well as the standard cargo version.
The aircraft can carry up to 32 passengers in high-density seating, or configured
in a 29 passenger troop/jump version, or even outfitted in a reconnaisance
configuration. The Loadmaster can even be fitted with pontoons for water-based
operations.