CMC is “still soldiering on,” in the words of founder and CEO Ian Chichester-Miles, but his long search for funding has yet to bear fruit. “My impression is that there is a lot of money available,” Chichester-Miles told AIN. “In our negotiations with financiers, we have not found that people are unwilling to make long-term loans, but the ‘terms of engagement’ offered are quite difficult. Until we obtain funds for research and development or total program money, development of the Leopard Six, now in the early design stage, is going slowly.”
Chichester-Miles said he was cheered somewhat by Cessna’s announcement at September’s NBAA Convention of the $2.295 million Mustang very light jet, as he believes this validates the market for this size airplane. “I think there is continued interest in the U.S. for an executive aircraft that sells for less than $3 million,” he said. The six-place Leopard Six has a projected price of $2.35 million (2001 $, complete).
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