VLJs are hot, extremely hot. Although only 175 VLJs were sold in 2007, a total of 7,650 will be delivered between 2007 and 2016. Furthermore, it has been estimated by PMI Media Ltd that the entire VLJ market will be worth 2.52 billion USD by 2011. No small sum by any one’s account. And should you require additional proof of how this segment has truly emerged, remember that Honda’s first foray into the aviation industry, the VLJ-classed HondaJet, was even nominated for the Ultimate Vehicle award in the last issue of Bespoke.
WHAT ARE THEY?
VLJs are small jets - normally flown by just one pilot - that fit between 4 and 8 people including the crew. They cost about half as much as the most inexpensive business jet, plus they have lower operating costs, and most importantly of all they can take off and land on short runways – thereby allowing access to a plethora of small, underused airfields. This is the root of the reinvention; large airports are almost all over-congested, usually inconveniently located and nearly always time consuming. Therefore unlike any other aircraft, VLJs propose point-to-point travel thereby helping make the skies more efficient.
WHO WILL BUY THESE PLANES?
There are two distinct markets. With prices starting at 1.5 million dollars, the VLJs are, first of all, a tempting proposition to those that may otherwise have been looking to buy a supercar or a yacht. Fundamentally, if you learn to fly, this is a very cool mode of personal transport that frees you from the queues of larger airports as well as the congestion of car traffic. The other market is the fractional ownership clubs and air-taxi companies that have recently started to offer VLJ seats in the States for more or less the price of regular economy fares.
HOW USEABLE ARE THEY?
VLJs have been designed to be as easy as possible to fly. Gone are the huge assortment of dials and counters. In their place is some advanced cockpit technology that includes moving-map-GPS and multi-function displays. Besides, once in the air, these planes will fly pretty far, as almost all models on offer exploit the use of a composite fuselage in order to create a cruising range.
THE MODELS TO KNOW
The big boys
Cessna Citation Mustang
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Seats 6
Engines 2 x PW615F
Speed 630 km/h
Range 2,160 km
Price 2.62 million USD
First deliveries since 2006
Need to know Cessna was the first company to obtain an FAA Production Certificate for a VLJ when they began to deliver Citation Mustangs back at the end of 2006. Unlike its new competitors however, it is made from heavier aluminium alloys rather than carbon fibre.
HondaJet
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Seats 6
Engines 2 x GE Honda HF120
Speed 778 km/h
Range 2,595 km
Price 3.65 million USD
First deliveries in 2010
Need to know Like with its automobiles, Honda will offer unbeatable sales and service facilities which will no doubt mean that the resale values of their first jet will hold strong. As such it is very hard to get your hands on one with full production sold out until the end of 2011.
Embraer Phenom 100
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Seats 4
Engines 2 x PW617F
Speed 704 km/h
Range 2,150 km
Price 2.98 million USD
First deliveries anytime now
Need to know The Brazilian manufacturer Embraer has the third largest yearly deliveries of commercial aircraft placing it just behind Boeing and Airbus. The Phenom 100 is the company’s first VLJ. It can accommodate 6 seats if you don’t mind doing away with the lavatory.
The up-and-coming players
Diamond D-Jet
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Seats 5
Engines 1 x Williams FJ33-4
Speed 583 km/h
Range 2,500 km
Price 1.38 million USD
First deliveries in 2009
Need to know Diamond has much experience with aerodynamics because of its glider past. The D-Jet is targeted towards owner-pilots with its uncomplicated operation. Since it has a flight ceiling of 25,000 feet the plane has less weight and complexity especially in case pressurisation fails.
5. Epic Victory
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Seats 4
Engines 1 x Williams FJ33-4
Speed 592 km/h
Range 2,220 km
Price 1 million USD
First deliveries in 2009
Need to know The Victory is an all composite single turbo jet that took just 202 days to go from the proverbial drawing board to a maiden voyage. The company is very proud to be the most inexpensive of all VLJs and as such orders will be aplenty although final FAA certification is pending.
6. Spectrum Independence S-33
Seats 8
Engines 2xWilliams FJ-33-4
Speed 787 km/h
Range 3,700 km
Price 3.65 million USD
First deliveries in 2009
Need to know The design process of the ultra-light composite S-33 was longer than most because the original plane was crashed during test flights in 2006. But the good news is that the delays allowed for improvements: the cabin got larger, the speeds got faster and the range further.
The strugglers
7. Eclipse 400
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Seats 4
Engines 1 x PW615F
Speed 612 km/h
Range 2,315 km
Price 1.35 million USD
First deliveries 2011
Need to know The 400 which was formerly known as the ECJ took its first flight in July 2007. And though the innovative V-shaped tail winged jet achieved two key milestones certifications, Eclipse filed for Chapter 11 protection in November while it prepares to be sold off in public auction in January.
8. Adam A700 Adamjet
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Seats 5 to 7
Engines 2 x Williams FJ33
Speed 630 km/h
Range 2,220 km
Price 2.5 million USD
First deliveries n/a
Need to know Although Adam Aircraft developed this innovative boom-tail aircraft it was not enough to save the company from filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Adam’s assets were bought by AAI Acquisitions, a company funded by a Russian private equity firm called Industrial Investments.
