Guanajuato prepares the first aeronautical project
with innovative materials and the stamp Made in Mexico
Guanajuato is
getting ready the first project for the construction and commercialization of
an aircraft manufactured in Mexico, turning the State in the first one in
assembling aircrafts in 77 years.
Horizontec is
the Mexican company leading this project.
It is a Mexican company dedicated to the design, development and
manufacture of light sport aircrafts.
The first
flight tests of this aircraft developed in Mexico were done at the Queretaro
Intercontiental Airport (AIQ, by its Spanish initials) at the facilitates of
the National Center of Aeronautics Technologies (CENTA, by its Spanish
initials.)
The name of
this aircraft is H1 and is a first prototype build of fiberglass and composed
wood. This aircraft is focused on recreational
use, sports and aviation schools.
It is a
two-seater model with a single engine of 100HP.
Its size is of 9.4 meters and has a longitude of 7 meters, its uptake
will be of 10 liters per hour, with an autonomy of up to eight hours, to reach
a height of 15,000 feet and a maximum speed of 320 kilometers per hour.
According to
the company, this aircraft is the first step to build a model called H2.1, its
pricing will be around 120,000 to 260,000 dollars, and the company anticipates
an annual production of up to 40 units per year.
The model H1 is
still waiting for the certification at the National Center of Aeronautics
Technologies (CENTA) located in the city of Queretaro, therefore Guanajuato
will be the place where the construction and marketing of H2 will be
promoted. Nevertheless, continuity will
be provided to the collaboration ties with CENTA, developing Halcon H2.1 with
higher aerodynamic technology.
BUILDING AN AEROSPACE ECOSYSTEM
In interview
with Giovanni Angelucci Carrasco, founder of the company Horizontec and
president of IK Aerospace, announced that aviation in Mexico continues to be an
underdeveloped issue, therefore technology behind the aviation sector is
forefront technology.
“A country not
developing this kind of technology represents a limitation, then this
initiative wants to encourage and gather efforts to detonate a Mexican aviation
made by Mexicans, as with that supply for aeronautical products will increase
and I understand that there is a great potential on this region,” he referred.
Mexico is one
of the first six nations worldwide that turns its market towards space supply,
therefore, he considered that efforts must be joint to have a technological
platform that provides services to this market.
Halcon 2 will
be shaped by composed materials on an industrialization process, it has a study
and advanced technological development, therefore, he considered Guanajuato has
the advantage of having companies with an automotive DNA which will less effort
can be also suppliers for the aeronautical sector.
The investment
for this Aerospace Ecosystem that will be located in San Miguel de Allende,
will be of 24 million dollars and will be integrated by the aeronautics school,
a maintenance center and an aircrafts factory.
PROPERTY LAND IS PREPARED FOR THE AERONAUTICAL SECTOR
According to
Fernando Balderas, president of Grupo SSC, company collaborating with the
manufacture of design software for the aircraft, said that through trainings
and advisories will collaborate on this new Aerospace Ecosystem, therefore he
celebrated the existence of this type of initiatives.
“For several
years now, Grupo SSC has had a technical collaboration on the design of
conceptual models for the development of the aircraft, with technological
tooling, training and CAD and simulation advisory, with CATIA and ANSYS software
respectively,” he detailed.
He explained
that this project goes towards emerging from a company incubated inside the
CENTA in Queretaro and have a venue where they could have an aircraft and build
the first airplanes.
“A fundamental
point for this company to announce they will be located at the municipality of
San Miguel de Allende, was that in addition of identifying the technical needs
of this company, they also identified their business needs,” he noted.
Balderas added
that as member of the Council for Investments Attraction of the State of
Guanajuato, was managed that IK Aerospace Group turned and see the state of
Guanajuato as an ally where they will find investors and professionals as well
as the support of the municipal and state government.
The aircraft
will receive the support of engineers from the Universidad Aeronautica de
Queretaro (UNAQ,) the Instituto Politecnico Nacional (IPN) and from the
Universidad Politecnica de Guanajuato.
“The last
aircrafts developed in Mexico date from 1940 and since then there was no
culture or aeronautical awareness. And
the idea is that with these aircrafts it is awaken,” he explained.
He added that
the corresponding investment for the Aerospace Ecosystem, it is a project that
not only will observe the manufacturing of aircrafts, but also the promotion of
the industry in the State and the region, as he anticipated it will have a
Training School, School Airplanes Maintenance and Air Pilots, which will
generate the attraction of more companies related with the aeronautical sector
MORE INFO:
HALCON 2.1
·
Two-seater
model with 100 HP single engine
·
9.4 meters wide
and 7 meters long
·
Uptake of 10
liters per hour
·
Autonomy of up
to eight hours
·
Reaching a
height of 15,000 feet
·
Maximum speed
of 320 kilometers per hour
