• An artist's impression of the F-45 Firecatcher. (Arcus Fire)
    An artist's impression of the F-45 Firecatcher. (Arcus Fire)
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Two New Zealand companies and a UK firm have joined forces to develop a clean-sheet single-engined turbo-prop (SETP) for firefighting.

Pacifc Aerospace and Flight Structures, both from Hamilton NZ, have linked up with British start-up Arcus Fire to produce the F-45 Firecatcher, a single-engine air tanker (SEAT) with a capacity of 4500 litres.

Once operational, the fixed-gear, high-wing F-45 will be the largest SEAT in the world, with a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67F turbine up the front and Garmin G600 avionics.

The joint venture, Firecatcher Aircraft, is also planning to offer the aircraft for cargo and commuter operation, designed to accommodate three LD3 cargo containers or 19 passengers.

The first prototype is still in the build stage, with certification in the restricted category for firefighting expected in 2024.

Firecatcher Aircraft also offers the 2500-litre F-25, a SEAT based on the PAC 750XL utility SETP.

More information is on the Firecatcher Aircraft webpage.

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