BoilerUP

I'd love the opportunity to drive one of those things...but only as a supplemental airplane or a replacement for the Cirrus

I really have to say I was impressed by the fit/finish of the interior, and with the comfort. Additionally, the baggage behind the back seats isn't a ton but looks like plenty of space for the vast majority of uses for the airplane.

Four pax in the rear club wouldn't be terribly comfortable on flights longer than an hour or so, but there's not THAT much less foot space in the club than in our CJ2+ and its still better than any seat on a RJ!

Cubdriver

Cirrus Not Deterred by Jet F&R Testing Mandate

(Flying eNewsletter 6/09) Cirrus Aircraft officials say they're not concerned over an FAA proposal to expand the requirement for function and reliability (F&R) testing to include turbine aircraft less than 6,000 pounds (maximum takeoff weight). They say the planned test program for Cirrus's single-engine SF50 Vision Jet already included most of the F&R testing they expect to be part of the FAA mandate. Cirrus said it hopes the current improved economy and the company's improved fiscal performance will help bring the $64 million in investment dollars it needs to speed development of the jet. Current projected specifications call for 1,000-nautical-mile range, 300-knot cruise speed, 28,000-foot maximum operating altitude and maximum takeoff weight less than 6,000 pounds. Cirrus CEO Brent Wouters said if the investment can be found, the company plans to build a conforming prototype in 2011. Currently, Cirrus has formally applied for a type certificate for the jet, and is performing known icing tests; leading to altering the aircraft's deicing boot configuration.

ToiletDuck

Cessna suspended the Mustang

KSCessnaDriver

For 5 to 6 six weeks, because they have a supplier issue. That's hardly a big deal, seeing the supplier issues up in Seattle with a certain airliner.

For me, as crazy as it sounds, I'd go with the Eclipse 500. IF you can get one with the latest avionics package, its really not that bad of an airplane, and its got decent speed.

Cubdriver

I actually favor the Eclipse short of Mustang or Phenom in the low cost VLJ class. I think it has been improved a great deal since the original ownership went bankrupt. The newer Eclipse is FIKI with much better avionics and technical support. This time the owners have a lot of their own skin in the game because they threw in their cash to buy it. If you have the money though, I think there is no beating a Mustang or a Phenom. Eclipse deals are pretty good right now and if you can do without the extra two seats you would save some money. They are showing up in the low $1M's lightly used, and $2.15 outfitted with all the latest upgrades.

BoilerUP

$2.15M will buy a pretty decent 15 year CitationJet these days...which is more capable in pretty much every way than an Eclipse.

Of course some people want "new"...

Cubdriver

The idea originally in regard to the VLJ was to make a 4-seat jet airplane that could be used as as an air taxi to unclog the Part 121 airspace, and yet be easy as a Cirrus SR22 to fly. The idea was to make the small jet accessible to the casual if somewhat rich pilot and smaller air taxi firms. $1 million or so was the target price. Make them cheap, small, simple, and have all the reliability and speed of a jet with nearly none of the fuss jets usually have. The line was set by the FAA at 10,000 for max takeoff weight, but many models came in far less such as the Eclipse and several others. They were 4 seat airplanes. So I agree there are better ways to go than to buy a VLJ in most cases, but I have to point out the original concept was for a jet that was small... SR22 small. It was to be simple, reliable, fast, and easy to buy. Jets like the CJ and the Phenom are not really VLJs- and even the Mustang is a stretch to some degree.

Ewfflyer

True, but for some folks, they don't need that capability. Also you need to consider the operating costs. E500's burn 55-60gph at altitude from my understanding, plus can fit into smaller hangers, etc..etc.. There are always trade-off's.

GauleyPilot

I am really curious to see how the Honda HA 420 will develop.

They have put 20 years into this project, and it was the ultimate dream of Soichiro Honda to manufacture aircraft.

I have heard it called quirky and small, but that's what BSA, Norton, and Harley Davidson said about this back in the day:


and what GM and Ford said about this:



Nobody says that now....Honda isn't known for making junk or stupid business moves.

Cubdriver

The HondaJet may be expensive at $3.7M, but it is also the fastest airplane in this group having a lot to do with the meticulous research and development done by Honda over the years. I have been following the aerodynamic development of it a long time. Honda publishes scholarly papers on their work through AIAA (Amercian Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics). Low drag coefficients are their best achievement, the over-wing engine mounting and laminar flow airfoils provide very low drag. Consequently, it is or will be the fastest VLJ on the market at about 420 kts.