Continental Motors To Put F406 Back Into Production
The F406 twin turboprop will return to production under a partnership between Continental and ASI Innovation.

Continental Motors, a subsidiary of Beijing-based Avic, partnered with STC and custom design and installation services firm ASI Innovation of Reims, France, to acquire the type certificate, inventory and manufacturing rights for the F406 twin turboprop from Reims Aviation, which was declared insolvent last year. The F406 is an unpressurized, 14-passenger airplane manufactured by Reims Aviation and originally designed in cooperation with Cessna in the early 1980s.

“We are pleased by the acquisition of this great airframe,” said Continental Motors president Rhett Ross. “We will be excited to see it return to production in both a turbine- and piston-engine configuration to meet global demand for a cost-effective twin-engine utility aircraft.”

As the companies work to bring the F406 back into production, ASI will control all business related to government applications for the aircraft, while Continental will focus on commercial applications and restarting production. In addition, ASI will become a distributor for Continental Motor products in Europe, as well as developing customer-specified STCs as needed for the reborn F406.