A LUCRATIVE foreign contract has been secured against stiff competition by a North Yorkshire engineering firm.

Slingsby Aviation has announced a new contract to supply 16 Firefly aircraft to the Royal Jordanian Air Force.

The high-powered training aircraft are already in use in 12 countries across the world in both military and civilian roles.

Managing director Jeff Bevan said: "I am very pleased that the firefly has broken into the Middle Eastern market with such a highly respected customer as the Kingdom of Jordan."

The planes are similar to those in use by the Royal Air Force at its joint elementary flying training school.

The contract includes associated spares, ground support equipment and technical support services.

Slingsby Aviation is part of the Chelton Group within Cobham plc, one of the UK's largest aerospace companies.

The company has already proved itself when working with other international customers to provide individual solutions to specific training requirements.

The Royal Jordanian Airforce has ordered 16 T67M260 aircraft, the most powerful aircraft in the Firefly range.

The planes are expected to be delivered in late 2002 and the aircraft will be used in primary and basic training roles at the Mafraq Air Force Base.

Updated: 09:00 Monday, October 29, 2001