SubSonex Jet Completes Maiden Flight

Bethany Whitfield

Tuesday, August 16, 2011 at 11:00 PM ET

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Key Takeaways:

The SubSonex Jet, a very light experimental aircraft by Sonex, completed its maiden flight in Oshkosh, moving closer to making recreational jet flying accessible for private pilots.
Powered by a PBS TJ-100 turbine engine and weighing just 330 pounds empty, the jet performed well in its 14-minute initial flight, with the pilot noting it "flies like an airplane."
Designed to bring the "thrill of a jet" to a wider range of pilots, the SubSonex can be flown by private pilots with minimal additional training, as experimental aircraft under 12,500 pounds do not require type ratings.

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The SubSonex Jet, one very, very light jet powered by a Czech-built PBS TJ-100 turbine engine, took off for its first flight in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, last week, bringing the prospect of a recreational jet for private pilots one step closer to reality.

Renowned airshow pilot Bob Carlton, famous for his performances in a modified Salto sailplane also powered by the PBS TJ-100, was behind the controls of the SubSonex as it completed its maiden flight.