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Very light jet

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File:Eclipse500.jpg
Eclipse 500 VLJ

A Very Light Jet (VLJ) is an aeroplane, smaller and lighter than conventional business jets and defined by some aviators as jet aircraft with a minimum take-off weight less than 10,000 pounds and approved for single-pilot operation. Currently in development they will feature advanced avionics with Glass cockpit technology. Seating between three and six passengers, the VLJ is likely to be cheaper to operate and will be able to land on short runways (up to 3,000 feet) providing flight services to airfields not currently used by business jets.

The Eclipse 500, one of the first VLJ's to enter flight testing, is capable of cruising at 375 knot with a 1,280 nautical mile range with 4 occupants. It has a 41,000 foot ceiling that will enable it to avoid most severe weather.

Due to forecast low running costs, VLJs are expected to open up a new air travel market and could lead to "on-demand" air taxi services. Although the viability of the business models to launch these services is the subject of the air taxi debate amongst industry experts.

The fist VLJ's are expected to enter service from March 2006 onwards.

VLJ's in development

  • Eclipse Aviation – Eclipse 500, Twin engine (Pratt & Whitney), 6 seats, due 2006
  • Cessna – Cessna Citation Mustang, Twin engine (Pratt & Whitney), 6 seats, due 2006
  • Adam Aircraft Industries– Adam 700, Twin engine (Williams International FJ33), 6 seats, due 2006
  • Embraer Phenom 100 - Twin engine (Pratt & Whitney Canada PW617F), seats 6 to 8, due mid-2008.
  • Excel-Jet Ltd - Sport-Jet, Single engine (Williams International), 4 seats, due 2006
  • Diamond Aircraft - D-Jet, Single engine (Williams International FJ33-4), 5 seats, due 2007
  • Aviation Technology Group - Javelin, Twin engine (TBC), 2 seats, due 2007
  • Avocet - ProJet - TBC, Twin engine (TBC), 6 seats, due TBC
  • Honda - Honda Jet, Twin engine (HF 118 home-engineered turbofan), 6 to 8 seats, no production plan
  • Safirejet


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