Posts Tagged ‘business jet’
Sunday, June 7th, 2009
The name ‘Lear’ in business jet aviation rightly brings associations of innovation, elegance and sheer chutzpah. For, the fact is, Bill Lear started it all.
Lear was far from the first to design a jet. That honor (though there are historical disputes) may belong to Frank Whittle just before the days of WWII. But he was unquestionably the first to design and successfully market a small business jet.
And, not just any business jet, but one that would become the gold standard. Long before Bill Gates was a teenager (the Google guys weren’t even born yet), William Lear started Swiss American Aviation Company. The company evolved in the mid-1960s to bear his name and his imprint.
Young entrepreneurs would dream of owning one. They still do. Many are still in the air. After many mergers and much evolution the company was acquired by Bombardier, who have continued the tradition of making stellar aircraft.
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Tags: Bill Lear, Biz Jets, Bombardier 850, business jet, business jet aviation, cessna mustang, Eclipse 500, Frank Whittle, Lear, Learjet, Learjet 25, small business jet, stellar aircraft, Swiss American Aviation Company, Very Light Jet, VLJ, William Lear
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Saturday, June 6th, 2009
It’s been several years now since the Concorde ceased making flights between New York and London or Paris. But the demand for rapid long-range travel has never cooled. Fortunately, several entrepreneurs are well-positioned to meet that demand – with supersonic business jets.
Currently, the fastest business jet on the market is the Citation X. At 0.9 Mach it speeds along at 90% of the speed of sound (761 mi/hr), putting its top speed around 685 mph (1102 kph). But that is top speed, not consistent cruising speed. And even that number still puts a flight from New York to London at around 5 hours. Wouldn’t it be great if that were closer to 3 hours?
The supersonic business jets on the drawing boards and being prototyped now promise to do just that.
One frontrunner is the Aerion SBJ (Supersonic Business Jet). Backed by financing from Texas billionair Robert Bass, and the expertise of several highly experienced executives and engineers, Aerion plans to deliver the first model by 2011. While any business plan can go awry, especially when breaking new ground, the company has a solid plan and realistic technology.
The SBJ will use a considerable amount of technology already in existence, so the risk of failure due to untried methods is much lower. At the same time, the plane design is innovative in its handling of technical problems like airflow and sonic boom generation. But those two issues are being well handled.
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Tags: boeing supersonic business jet, business jet, concorde supersonic jet, fastest business jet, sukhoi supersonic business jet, supersonic business jet netjets, supersonic business jet sbj, supersonic business jet wind tunnel, supersonic commercial jets, supersonic corporate jet, supersonic passenger jet, supersonic personal jet
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Friday, May 22nd, 2009
Cessna Aircraft company began in 1927. After producing the first cantilever wing design, they went on to a steady stream of commercial success driven by innovation. That tradition continues up to the present day as a subsidiary of Textron, owners of Bell Helicopter.
Though the early years through the mid-1960s were driven largely by their small two-four seaters, they branched out to become one of the industry’s leading business jet manufacturers. Today, it isn’t just the little Piper Cub that is instantly recognizable at airports. The Citation business jet series is equally renowned by those who know, love or just use these outstanding aircraft.
Whether it’s the super-speedy Citation X, the luxurious Citation Sovereign, or any of the many other models, these bizjets are among the finest flying vessels in existence.
Not least of those outstanding models is the Citation Bravo 550B. With 11 seats, this small corporate jet can fly a full complement easily from New York to Chicago. At under 9,000 lbs (4,100 kg), this baby’s twin Pratt and Whitney engines just sip fuel as it flies along at 30,000 feet.
But the power and efficiency is matched by a luxurious interior. With taupe leather seats and stylish paneling, the Citation Bravo is not just a flying office. It’s a flying room in a first class cruise ship.
The Citation Sovereign is even more impressive. This mid-sized corporate jet sports an eight seat cabin, the largest in its class and offering 40% more internal volume than the already spacious Bombardier Learjet 60.
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Tags: aircraft, airports, Bell Helicopter, Biz Jets, business jet, Cessna Aircraft, Cessna Citation, Citation Bravo 550B, Citation business jet, first class cruise ship, flying office, flying vessels, luxurious Citation Sovereign, Piper Cub, small corporate jet, super-speedy Citation X, Textron
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Thursday, May 14th, 2009
The name Bombardier brings to mind images of WWII pilots dropping bombs on Europe. Nothing could be further from reality for this Canadian builder of business jets.
Though less well known than some other names, their jets are famed throughout the industry for speed, efficiency and style. The company purchased Learjet about 15 years ago, but even before and since they’ve continued to produce models independent of that line that are outstanding. Bill Gates and Steven Spielberg, among many other notables, own Bombardier business jets. These men are not known for spending money foolishly.
One of the most outstanding models in its current line up is the Global Express XRS. This ultra long-range business jet offers speed that shrinks global distances to local travel times. It offers comfort that makes you sorry the trip was so quick.
With a cabin width of over 8 feet (2.5 m) and a height of over 6 feet (2 m) it provides plenty of space for even larger passengers. The 48-foot/14.7-m length gives you ample room to take a stroll on those rare flights where you have time to spare. But the cruising speed of 0.80 Mach (850 kph/540 mph) means you won’t have too much time to be bored.
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Tags: Bombardier, Bombardier business jets, business jet, Business Jets, Challenger 300 carries, corporate jet, flights, Global Express XRS, larger passengers, Learjet, transcontinental flights
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Wednesday, May 13th, 2009
The name Boeing is, of course, well known to air travelers. Boeing and Airbus between them dominate commercial aircraft. Both have seen bad years. But, with the announcement of their revolutionary 787 Dreamliner made from lightweight composites that offer dramatically lower fuel consumption, Boeing is definitely on top. Airbus’ financial troubles haven’t hurt them either.
Nevertheless, making jets for average consumer flights isn’t the only thing Boeing does. They have a line of business jets that are equally well regarded. A 50-50 partnership between Boeing and General Electric ensures that these planes are the finest modern technology can produce.
Many of the older Boeing Business Jet models are converted 737 and 747 series airliners. Though older, with good refurbishing they offer an outstanding value for those looking for a larger jet. They seat between 25-50 passengers and those travelers are offered the best in business jet travel comfort and amenities.
While images of cramped bathrooms are natural to anyone who has flown in a commercial jet, that’s certainly not the case with Boeing business jets. Many have been converted to offer elegant washrooms complete with showers.
Sleeping quarters on a commercial jet typically consists of a tiny pillow stuffed behind your head and a thin, nylon blanket. Not so in one of these babies. They offer master bedrooms, special bunks and much more for the weary traveler making a long distance journey.
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Tags: 787 Dreamliner, air travelers, Airbus, airliners, Boeing, Boeing 737, Boeing 747, Boeing Business Jet, business jet, Business Jets, commercial aircraft, commercial jet, consumer flights, larger jet, lower fuel consumption
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Tuesday, May 12th, 2009
You may not find a business jet in your driveway in the next few years, but how far away is the nearest small airport? If you’re like many around the country, the answer is fewer than 20 miles. There are over 5,000 small airports in the U.S. that the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) regards as ‘underused’. That means they are used at less than normal capacity for an airport that size.
The latest small private or business jets, VLJs (Very Light Jets), can land on runways as short as 3,000 feet (914 m). By contrast, mid-sized business jets like the Gulfstream G150 require almost 5,000 feet (1524 m) to land. They do have nice long ranges, though: more than 3,000 nautical miles. They can fly from LA to NY in a single hop.
Eclipse Aviation, with their Eclipse E500 can definitely take advantage of that. Using smaller airports means quicker take off and landing, and flights nearer to home for millions. Instead of fighting traffic, security and all the other commercial air travel hassles travelers can simply take a short drive or taxi ride to a local ‘air taxi’.
Fractional ownership arrangements, in which multiple individuals or companies own a part of the aircraft, make having one at your disposal on short notice feasible. At $1 million to $3 million, or even $10 million for the larger private jets, spreading the fractional ownership over as few as five makes the jet less than the average home in major urban areas.
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Tags: air taxi, business jet, Business Jet Air Taxis, Business Jets, commercial air travel, Eclipse Aviation, Eclipse E500, Federal Aviation Administration, Gulfstream G150, small airport, travelers, Very Light Jets, VLJ
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Monday, May 11th, 2009
The U.S. President and Air Force One may be the most well-known example of using a jet as a flying office. Nevertheless, there are thousands of others around the world who find this an efficient and cost-effective way to do business. Whether using an executive version of the Boeing 757 or the Gulfstream G150, there are thousands of actors, athletes, businessmen and other professionals who use jets to expand their options for doing business.
Using a business jet minimizes jet lag since sleeping accommodations are common interior add-ons. Separate private jet areas at airports also means less delay getting in and out of airports. Fewer security checkpoints and schedules tailored to the traveler’s needs rather than the airline’s reduces overall travel time. Take-offs and landings at smaller airports closer to the departure and arrival points also keep wasted travel time and distance to a minimum.
All that means more time for business, more relaxed travel and a more refreshed traveler ready for action at the journey’s end. Even a thirty year old Gulfstream GII can travel from Los Angeles to Paris in about 11 hours. Newer planes may not get there any faster, but many are getting there cheaper. Entry-level executive jets sell for between $3 million and $4 million. The VLJ (Very Light Jets), such as the HondaJet or the Eclipse E500 sell for as low as $1 million.
But these newer planes, thanks to advances in engine design and composite materials, have all the power and range anyone could need.
The Rolls Royce FJ44-powered single engine Century will support 6,000 lbs MTOW (Maximum Take-Off Weight). Ultra-light planes of that type could easily carry four passengers from LA to San Francisco or London to Paris.
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Tags: business jet, Business Jet Flying Offices, Eclipse E500, flying commercial airlines, flying office, HondaJet, planes, private jet, travel time, Very Light Jets, VLJ
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Monday, May 11th, 2009
Some of the things that have kept business jet use from reaching its full potential have nothing to do with technology or regulations. Like any business in order to be low cost and still profitable it has to be efficient. But that’s a difficult thing to achieve in the business jet arena.
Advertising for business jet travel isn’t exactly as common as, say, for iPods. Unfair comparison because of the huge cost difference? Ok, when is the last time you saw an ad for a Ford truck? Yet, leasing the top of the line model isn’t significantly more expensive than some business jet travel plans. But, you say, getting around in a Ford truck is a lot easier than getting into a business jet and hopping from city to city. Well, maybe, maybe not.
Those are exactly the two problems that fractional ownership plans try to solve: cost and convenience.
When you rent a timeshare in a condo in Colorado you plunk down a hefty amount of money. But it’s a lot less than you would pay to own the accommodations outright. You pay less because you don’t need the item all year ’round. You divide the costs with others who have similar interests. But then you have a (potential) scheduling problem. You may want to use the timeshare when someone else in the partnership does.
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Tags: airline, business jet, business jet travel, Expedia, flight, Fractional Jet Ownership, Fractional ownership plans, private jet, travel agency, vacation travel, Very Light Jet, VLJ
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Quarterly profit at Bombardier fell 27 percent on weakness in both its aerospace and train-making segments, but a significant reduction in business-jet cancellations pointed to a recovery in that sector ... Sep-02 - 2010 | More -> ...