View source for Spectrum S-33 Independence

{{Short description|American small carbon fiber business jet (in development 2012)}}
{{Update|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox aircraft
| name = S-33 Independence
| image = 
| caption = 
| type = [[Very light jet]]
| national_origin = United States
| manufacturer = [[Spectrum Aeronautical]]
| designer = 
| first_flight = Jan 7, 2006<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/spectrum-33-light-jet-performs-first-flight/64872.article |title= Spectrum 33 light jet performs first flight |date= 11 January 2006 |work= Flightglobal}}</ref>
| introduction = 
| retired = 
| status = company now bankrupt
| primary_user = 
| more_users = 
| produced = 
| number_built = 1
| variants = 
}}

The '''Spectrum S-33 Independence''' was a [[very light jet]] prototype designed and built by [[Spectrum Aeronautical]] using a carbon fiber construction process that makes the airplane weigh about two-thirds as much as a comparably sized aluminum-frame airplane.<ref name="unveil">{{cite news|last1=Trautvetter|first1=Chad|title=Spectrum Aeronautical unveils the newest entry to VLJ market|url=http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aviation-international-news/2006-10-24/spectrum-aeronautical-unveils-newest-entry-vlj-market|accessdate=18 March 2011|publisher=AINonline|date=24 October 2006}}</ref>

The aircraft was designed to cruise at 45,000&nbsp;ft. at speeds up to 415 knots (Mach 0.72) and fly as far as 2000&nbsp;nm (3700&nbsp;km) while using about half the fuel of comparably sized aluminum-framed business aircraft. FAA and JAA Type Certifications of the S-33 Independence were expected to be completed in 2009, but were not. The company has provided no press releases to explain the long delay in gaining certification.

The aircraft was reported to be able to accommodate 5–6 passenger seats, a full-sized private lavatory, and will have a maximum take-off weight of 7,300&nbsp;lb., with a range of over 2,000 miles.

The retail sales price of the aircraft, which is equipped with [[Williams FJ33|Williams FJ-33]] engines was supposed to be US-$3.95 million. The aircraft was to be released about 12 months after the bigger [[Spectrum S-40 Freedom|S-40 "Freedom"]]. In May 2011 Spectrum president Austin Blue said, "We are still trying to get the programs advancing, but it is not easy".<ref name="works">{{cite news|last1=Sarsfield|first1=Kate|title=EBACE: New aircraft in the works|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/ebace-new-aircraft-in-the-works-356107/|accessdate=24 August 2012|work=[[Flightglobal]]|publisher=[[Flight International]]|date=10 May 2011|location=London}}</ref>

==Accident==
The only completed S-33, registration N322LA, crashed in a test flight on July 25, 2006 in [[Spanish Fork, Utah]], killing the two test pilots aboard, Glenn Maben and Nathan Forrest. The aircraft rolled right immediately after takeoff, reaching a 90-degree angle before the wingtip struck the ground. The preliminary [[NTSB]] report revealed that the control linkage had been connected backward during maintenance after the previous flight, resulting in opposite control output (a left roll input on the control stick resulting in the aircraft rolling right).<ref name="SEA06FA146">{{cite report|title=Accident Report|url=https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief2.aspx?ev_id=20060731X01059&ntsbno=SEA06FA146&akey=1|publisher=[[NTSB]]|id=SEA06FA146|accessdate=15 August 2006}}</ref>

==Specifications==
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=kts
|ref=
|crew= one, pilot
|capacity=6-9 passengers
|length ft= 45
|length in= 11
|length m= 13.99 
|span ft=  43
|span in=  3
|span m= 13.2 
|height ft= 10
|height in= 8
|height m= 3.3 
|max takeoff weight lb=  7500 
|max takeoff weight kg=  
|more general=
* Interior height: 5 ft 0 in (1.47 m)
* Interior width:  5 ft 0 in (1.47 m)
* Interior length (total): 18 ft (5.49 m)
|eng1 name= [[Williams FJ33-4A-19]]<ref name=10Aug2007>{{cite press release|title=Spectrum Aeronautical Enhances Performance of its Independence S-33 and Accelerates its Mid-size Freedom S-40 Certification Schedule|url=http://www.spectrum.aero/pressevents/68-spectrum-aeronautical-enhances-performance-of-its-independence-s-33-and-accelerates-its-mid-size-freedom-s-40-certification-schedule|location=Carlsbad, CA|publisher=[[Spectrum Aeronautical]]|date=10 August 2007|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531152417/http://www.spectrum.aero/pressevents/68-spectrum-aeronautical-enhances-performance-of-its-independence-s-33-and-accelerates-its-mid-size-freedom-s-40-certification-schedule|archivedate=31 May 2011|accessdate=18 March 2011}}</ref>
|eng1 type=[[turbofan]] engines
|eng1 number=2
|eng1 kn=6.68 
|max speed kts= 425 
|range nmi= 1600-2000 
|range mi= 1830-2280 
|range km= 2960-3700 
|ceiling ft= 45000 
|ceiling m=  
}}

==See also==
* [[Spectrum S-40 Freedom]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.spectrum.aero/ Spectrum Aeronautical]

[[Category:Spectrum aircraft|S-33]]
[[Category:2000s United States business aircraft]]
[[Category:Very light jets]]
[[Category:Twinjets]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 2006]]