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Originally Posted by Airhoss
Me cutting them slack has nothing to do with anything at all. The market place needs to find them viable and they need to produce the numbers they are claimed to...
You are thumbs down on VLJs, just trying to figure out why so. So, let's say the market votes with dollars and starts buying VLJs. This is already happening with the Mustang, Cessna can't make enough of them. Even during a recession they sell like hotcakes. But what does this prove? Part 135 operators might feel they can some money with them or maybe it proves that owner-pilots would rather have a VLJ than a King Air, but this is only part of the story. As far as producing the numbers they claim, you do not say what numbers to which you refer and what we discussed does not seem to impress you. I will venture a guess you are talking about payload, speed, cabin space, price, and range, so I surfed up a comparison of Mustang, Phenom 100, and the King Air GTi-
Turboprop vs.VLJ comparison (AvBuyer) (p.50)
While each of these aircraft has a strong point or two, this is a well paired group of airplanes. If an operator wants more speed or to get over the weather they will definitely prefer the VLJ. If they want to carry an extra passenger or two they will definitely prefer the baby King Air. Apples against oranges but you can't say VLJs are not in the same league with light turboprops. They were intended to be a fast way to get a couple of people and their bags from West Podunk to East Hokeytown at an expense comparable to airline prices and they do this well. The only problem with them in my opinion is they are not particularly fuel efficient, but that was not the issue.
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...I still say that small to midsized turboprop is a better option for that segment length and payload requirement....
Again, if speed is the thing a VLJ is (a lot) quicker and higher and I think the study above shows it is comparable or better on every count except maybe payload or fuel efficiency. VLJs were not intended to haul a lot of people, so they can't be held responsible for only carrying a few.