Very Light Jet (VLJ) aircraft for 2008-2010

Epic Elite, Victory, Spectrum Freedom, Avcen Jetpod, Piperjet and Cirrus Jet look for the nimble footed air traveler.

Epic Aircraft, a US based small airplane manufacturing company, currently has one certified model, while four others are in the experimental stage. The four aircraft to be rolled out of the Epic Aircraft facility include the LT, Victory, Escape and Elite. While Epic LT is a six-seater experimental turboprop, the Victory is a single-engined plane. The Escape is a scaled down version of LT. The Elite is a twin-engined VLJ. The only certified model made by Epic Aircraft is the Dynasty.

THE EPIC ELITE

Price: $ 1.2 million    Speed: 722 km per hour    Seats: 7

ELite pumps up 3100 lbs of thrust from its two Williams FJ33-4A FADEC engines. The carbon composite body has no welding or joint marks, making for a very smooth body. The Elite, which can carry 6-8 aircraft, can cruise at 410 KTAS and cover over than 1600 nautical miles. The maximum payload is 1700 pounds. The Epic Elite is also fitted with a lavatory, a luxury in several very light jets.

THE EPIC VICTORY

Price: $ 1.2 million    Speed: 592 km per hour     Seats: 4-6

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Yet to make a million? The Epic Victory, a single engine VLJ, comes for under a million dollars. The Victory can have 4 or 5 seats, and has a single Pratt & Whitney PW600 series engine. It is 33.4 feet in length, slightly less than an Epic Elite. It has a maximum cruise speed of 320 KTAS. Both Epic VLJs are expected to be available in 2008.

THE CIRRUS JET

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The Cirrus Jet, being made by Cirrus Design, is another VLJ aspirant. The seven seater Cirrus Jet will have a Williams FJ33-4 power plant, and can cruise at 300 knots. The engine creates 1900 pounds of thrust. It can cover a maximum of 3000 nautical miles and costs less than a million dollars. Certification of the Cirrus Jet is expected in 2010. The cockpit of The Cirrus BLJ will have two seats, and the second row will have two seats as will the third row. Like all Cirrus aircraft, it carries a parachute. The seats are configurable to suit the number of seats, with two of them in the stowaway format. Cirrus has yet to name its VLJ, and simply calls it "The Jet". Cirrus, which already has other certifed aircraft in operation, claims that the VLJ will have the least operating cost, a factor which will be key to the survival of the very light jet industry. The Jetpod engine will use original and recycled vegetable oil.

THE AVCEN JETPOD

Price: Not available     Speed: NA   Seats: 7-8

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Avcen Ltd is a British company which too has its sights set on the VLJ market. The company is developing the Jetpod, a plane which can take off and land in very short distances without noise. The Avcen Jetpod will have a maximum speed of 550 km/h (350 mph, 300 knots). The Jetpod needs only 125 meters to take off and land, says the company. The short tarmac distance and the quiet nature of its operation can make the Jetpod suitable for takeoff and landing very near to the cities. The proposed uses of the aircraft are as a military aircraft, executive aircraft and as an air taxi service. The plane is expected to be able to house 7-8 people.

THE PIPERJET

Price: $ 2.2 million    Speed: 667 km per hour    Seats: 6

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The Florida based Piper Aircraft, which makes small planes, is also in the race for the VLJ market. The single engined VLJ Piperjet will have an optional lavatory or a seventh seat or extra space. The toilet is located between the cockpit and the cabin. The PiperJet can reach a cruising speed of 360 knots, and can cover a range of 1300 nautical miles. It has ample cargo space and has an ourside pressure vessel. The company had set a 2.19 million dollar price tag for 2006, but the deadline was not met. Expect the price to be a tad higher when the Piperjet reaches its first customer. The company claims that the Pieperjet will be the most advanced small jet in its class.

THE SPECTRUM FREEDOM S40

Price: $ 6.2 million    Speed: 805 km per hour    Seats: 7-9

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Spectrum Aeronautical is also getting ready with its Freedom S40. It will use a GE Honda HF 120 engine. The Freedom is the second model from Spectrum. It is bigger than the Spectrum Independence S-33. It can cruise at FL450 and speeds up to 435 nautical miles per hour (500 MPH) and fly as far as 2,200 nautical miles. The company hopes to get the plane into service by 2010. The Freedom VLJ's HF120 turbofan engine will provide 2000 pounds of thrust. Certification for the HF120 engine is targeted for 2009.