Brief overview of new models
of medium-sized and light business aviation aircraft.
In the nearest future we can expect the release of several new models of foreign aircraft for VIP passenger flights. Some of them were developed and manufactured by companies that appeared on the market only recently. Most new models are within the category of relatively inexpensive light jet airplanes. As a rule, modern composite materials are used for their manufacture. Such aircraft don`t have any outstanding characteristics as far as the range ability and comfort are concerned, but this is offset by their good speed and reasonable price. They are targeted to the potential buyers who until recently could only dream of having their own airplane.
Among such planes can be quoted A700 Adam Jet (USA), Avocet Pro Jet (USA/Israel), Eclipse-500, Safire Jet (USA), Sino-Swearingen (SJ30-2, USA/Taiwan).
Their small cabin (for 4-6 passengers) and limited range ability (2,000-3,200 km) are compensated, according to their designers, by a relatively moderate price within the limits of $1.5-2 mn. Sino-Swearingen model (range ability 4,600 km) offers better design performance, but also a higher price of about $5.5 mn.
All these aiplanes are just going through the certification process and exist so far only as prototype models. However, their sales are expected to be launched in the nearest future.
Traditional business aircraft manufacturers have also made their contributions to the development of light jet airplanes.
A new Bombardier Learjet-40, the production of which started in 2004, was presented at the Farnborough international airshow back in 2002. This airplane has a cabin for 6-7 passengers. Its range ability is 3,300 km. It costs about $7.8 mn.
The Learjet-45, which is already in operation, has been transformed into the new version Learjet-45 XP equipped with a more powerful engine and having the maximum speed of 900 km/hr and range ability of 3,800 km. As a result, its price increased and reached the level of $10,850 mn.
Sessna presented its Citation XLS airplane, which is an improved version of Citation XL and has first of all a more powerful engine. This airplane can also be classified among the light business airplanes, even though by certain features it`s closer to the airplanes of a higher class. Its cost is about $10 mn.
The next models can be conventionally classified as medium sized business aviation airplanes. The airplanes of this type have a cabin for 7-8 passengers. Their range ability is no less than 4,000 km. Among the new models are Gulfstream-150 with the range ability of up to 4,900 km, and Citation Sovereign with the range ability of 5,100 km. These aircraft have more spacious cabins than the light jet airplanes. Their speed is about 800 km/hr, and their price ranges from $12 to $13 mn.
A very interesting model is Challenger-300, which can be considered as a large sized business aircraft, even though in the Western classification it goes as "supermedium-sized". Its cabin (1.8 meters high and 2.5 meters wide) can comfortably accomodate 8-10 passengers. The plane has a spacious luggage compartment. Its distange range amounts to 5,500 km. Its price is within the limits of $17.5 mn.
Other new aircraft models are large sized aircraft and cost over $20 mn. We will tell more about them next month.
