Time for a PJ?

FLYING Staff

Thursday, February 16, 2006 at 10:00 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

The article defines a "Personal Jet" (PJ) as a single-engine, owner-piloted aircraft distinct from Very Light Jets (VLJs) due to its simpler design, lower operating altitudes, and reduced costs.
Early attempts at personal jets, like the Morane-Saulnier MS 760 Paris Jet, were unsuccessful primarily due to the poor fuel efficiency of first-generation jet engines, which severely limited performance and range.
Advances in modern turbofan engine technology, such as the Williams FJ-33, are now enabling the viability of single-engine PJs like the Diamond D-Jet by offering significantly improved fuel efficiency, though design challenges like engine air intake remain.

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With Diamond expecting to fly its D-Jet soon, and the people at Cirrus talking about building a jet, is a true personal jet about to emerge? With so much industry attention focused on the several very light jets that are in various stages of development, the concept of a truly personal jet designed for the owner pilot is about to emerge.

What’s the difference between a very light jet (VLJ) and a personal jet? No specific definition of a personal jet exists, but I have my own. A personal jet (PJ) is a single-engine airplane with no more than six total seats, a maximum operating altitude of 30,000 feet or less, and a top speed of 300 knots, or only a little more.