| AirTech SA-180 Sucellus | |
|---|---|
|
Role |
Wide-body, double-decker jet airliner |
|
National origin |
|
|
Manufacturer |
|
|
First flight |
16 November 2005 |
|
Introduced |
5 March 2008 with Alexander Air |
|
Status |
In service |
|
Primary users |
Alexander Air |
|
Produced |
2005-2022 |
|
Number built |
98 |
|
Unit cost |
510 million lira |
The Alexander Aerospace SA-180 is a transonic double-decker, wide-body, four-engined airliner manufactured by Adanese aerospace firm AirTech, a subsidiary of Alexander Enterprises. The aircraft was known as the AirTech Gigan during much of its development phase, a name mostly forgotten with the aircraft becoming known simply as the 180 upon entering service.
The 180's upper deck extends along the entire length of the fuselage, and its width qualifies it as a widebody aircraft. This allows for the aircraft to provide seating for 560 people in a three-class configuration or up to 875 people in an all-economy configuration.
Design & development[]
The AirTech SA-180 began development as the AT-179, a model which also spawned the SA-181. Around 2000, the project was transferred to AirTech's Mobius Division, putting it in the same lineup as the SA-172. Mobius codenamed the AT-179 as "Gigan" and redesigned it to allow it to travel nearer to supersonic speeds. At this point, the project was also split into two: the SA-180 "Gigan", and the smaller SA-181 "Gorgo".
Service history[]
The SA-180 made its first commercial flight on 5 March 2008 from İncirlik, Çukurova to Oured, Osea, with a flyover of Alexander City in celebration of the anniversary of Alexander Enterprises' foundation, and its fourth year in the city. On this flight, however, the 180 could not achieve supercruise, as the Adanese government had yet to lift its ban on supersonic flight over its territory, just as many other countries. Until 2010, when the ban was changed to only be in effect under the altitude of 1,600 metres, the aircraft would only operate at 0.95 M, a speed which it is still often restricted to when flying in foreign territories.
In November 2008, the 180 entered service with its second commercial carrier, Concordia International Airlines, where it is primarily used for transoceanic flights.
In 2021, it was decided that the slow-selling 180 would cease production at the end of 2022 in order to free up space for the upcoming SA-171.
Variants[]
Civilian variants[]
- KC-180W: Firefighting aircraft proposal
- SA-180 SCLA: Shuttle carrier aircraft for the TSO
Military variants[]
- C-180: Outsize cargo aircraft
- EK-180: Aerial refueling and electronic warfare and support aircraft
- KC-180: Multirole tanker transport aircraft
Specifications[]
- Range: 8,450 nmi
- Cruising speed: Mach 0.95