Among the many exciting aircraft on display on the EAA AirVenture grounds in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, a few stand out a little extra this week. Redmond, Oregon-based Stratos Aircraft brought the latest version of its light jet, the 716X, which will soon make its way to customers. This is the first time the public has a chance to see the 716X—the experimental version of what will eventually become the Part 23 certified Stratos 716. The planned cruise speed of 0.7 Mach, single turbofan engine, and six-seat configuration represent the numbering of the 716.
So far, Stratos has completed about 50 hours of flight testing of the 716X and has finished the first stage of envelope expansion, said Stratos Aircraft’s president and chief technology officer, Carsten Sundin. Following the show in Oshkosh, the flight test team will take the airplane above 28,000 feet, approaching the targeted service ceiling of 41,000 feet. Sundin said “the 716 is very similar to the 714, which has over 300 hours on it.” The 714 was Stratos’s initial proof of concept, and it is on display alongside its younger brother.
