Jets

Spike Aerospace has revealed a futuristic interior for its S-512 supersonic business jet, currently in the development phase. The high-tech cabin has been designed with no windows. Instead, the cabin walls are embedded with massive computer screens, allowing the occupants to choose the view. Should Spike make its cool SSBJ design a reality, its passengers […]

After facing several delays, Bombardier Aerospace’s Learjet 85 took off on Wednesday from Wichita Mid-Continent International Airport to successfully complete its first flight. The Learjet 85 performed “very well,” according to Vice President and General Manager Ralph Acs. The all-composite jet flew for 2 hours and 15 minutes and reached an altitude of 30,000 feet […]

Textron AirLand LLC is making good progress on its Scorpion tactical jet project. After more than 50 hours of flight-testing, the light attack airplane has shown promising performance numbers and the pilots describe the airplane as nimble and agile with plenty of power yet stable in the landing configuration. The test pilots have brought the […]

Embraer Executive Jets has enjoyed a very successful introduction of its Phenom line of light jets. Only a little more than five years after the Brazilian airplane maker introduced the Phenom 100, it has recently delivered the 300th version of the model. “We are very grateful to our Phenom 100 customers, with whom we share […]

The Gulfstream factory in Savanna, Georgia, continues to crank out large numbers of luxurious business jets. Only nine years after the introduction of the G450, Gulfstream has delivered the 300th unit of this $40 million airplane, which provides great speeds, long legs, a large comfortable cabin and high-tech capabilities in the cockpit as well as […]

Cessna has announced its intent to upgrade two of its popular business jets: the CJ2+ and CJ3, which will now become the CJ3+. Both bizjets are replacing the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics with Garmin’s G3000 touch screen system. In addition to the new avionics suite, the two airplanes have received a new diagnostic […]

In subfreezing temperatures and buffeting winds, a Cirrus Aircraft test pilot yesterday flew the first production conforming Vision SF50 jet, taking off from Duluth International Airport at around 5 p.m. for the one-hour shakedown test. “The Vision Jet handled and performed very well and all systems functioned properly – just what you want in a […]

The first Eclipse 550 customer has left the Eclipse Aerospace factory in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as the manufacturer delivered the first modified version of the original very light jet, the Eclipse 500. The delivery was achieved less than two years after production restarted, but about six months later than the company had hoped when it […]

Deep cuts in military spending ordered by the Obama Administration would reduce American military forces to their lowest level since before World War II and signal the end of the line for two iconic military aircraft, the high-flying Lockheed U-2 spyplane and tank-busting A-10 Warthog. Under the proposed military budget, the entire A-10 fleet would […]

Look for the Learjet 85 to make its hotly anticipated first flight in the coming weeks after Bombardier completed engine ground runs and low-speed taxi tests prior to receiving the necessary first-flight permit from the FAA. The Learjet 85 is the first all-new airplane from the manufacturer in more than 15 years. Launched in 2007, […]