10/31/2007. The Jet Squalus was designed by Dott Ing Stelio Frati of
General Avia (Pioltello, Italy) for Promavia
(Gosselies-Aéroport, Belgium) according the NGT (Next
Generation Trainer) specifications of the USAF. The single-engined
jet aircraft was built by General Avia and the prototype was flown
for the first time registered as I-SQAL by Jack Zanasso from
Aeroporto di Orio al Serio, Bergamo, Milan, on April 30, 1987. A
second airframe (OO-JET) has been built but was never flown.
The prototype was transferred to Gosselies and eventually
re-registered as OO-SQA. Hundreds of test and demonstration flights
produced much attention, the original 1,330 lb (603 kg) st Garrett
TFE-109-1 turbofan was replaced by an 1,800 lb (816 kg) st Williams
FJ-44 turbofan, however no production was undertaken.
Alberta Aerospace eventually acquired all assets of the Jet Squalus
program and the aircraft was registered (and still is) in the USA as
the Promavia Jet Squalus, N112SQ, and promoted as the Phoenix FanJet,
later as the Phoenix SigmaJet.
