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Which VLJ do you like and why?

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Swass

Swass

So long, America.....
Joined
Jan 10, 2003
Posts
2,015
I thought it would be a cool topic to discuss with all the hype.

I like the Honda, It looks like it will be a pretty nice ride for pilot and pax.

The Cessna is just like any other Citation, which is a good thing.

The Swearingen looks like a great little hotrod, although the cabin looks to be pretty tight.

I'm not sure about the others, Cirrus and Piper (ridiculous engine config.). They look to me like they are going to be overpriced for their size (what niche do they serve?).

Anyways........
 
Swass said:
I thought it would be a cool topic to discuss with all the hype.

I like the Honda, It looks like it will be a pretty nice ride for pilot and pax.

The Cessna is just like any other Citation, which is a good thing.

The Swearingen looks like a great little hotrod, although the cabin looks to be pretty tight.

I'm not sure about the others, Cirrus and Piper (ridiculous engine config.). They look to me like they are going to be overpriced for their size (what niche do they serve?).

Anyways........
Click to expand...

Im glad someone started a topic on this. This has been something of interest to me for quite some time.

So far the only one I've seen in person and flying is the new Citation Mustang. To me it looks like Ferrari designed a CJ. Pretty much the same thing as a CJ, just a bit smaller and with a G1000. Nice cabin, comfortable, not exactly the plane for those weekend golf excursions (but what VLJ is).

I saw a mock up of the Diamond D-Jet. I was surprisingly impressed by this aircraft. And at the price of a fully loaded Baron its a good deal.

I think the Cirrus jet is to be priced just above $1 million. From the pictures it seems to have one of the roomiest cabins in the market (5 pax + 2 pilots) and the performance is comparable to the d-jet. Im just trying to figure out where the parachute will go.

It will be sometime before anyone will see which of the VLJ's is the "winner". Most aren't due out will '09/'10.
 
I've crawled all over the Mustang and I really like it, especially because we already know it's pedigree.

The only plane I don't like is the Piperjet. There is just something about the engine being mounted on the tail that is rubbing me wrong.
 
I think the three biggest names in the VLJ market are currently Cessna, Eclipse, and Embraer.

The Phenom is the fastest of the three, while the Mustang has the longest range, and the Eclipse has the shortest takeoff and landing distances. I think owners will be making their decisions primarily based on how soon can they take delivery, how much does it cost, and how do they feel about the manufacture.

If it was my money, I'd be looking at the Mustang and Phenom based on the reputation of the manufactures.
 
willNOTfly4free said:
and the Eclipse has the shortest takeoff and landing distances.
Click to expand...

This is only true on paper because Eclipse uses different certification methods. The published takeoff length will not get you to V1 and stopped again like the others.

One more reason the airplane sucks.
 
The only one that I have flown was the Eclipse. And I felt that it was a huge, and I mean huge disappoinment. Interior flet cheap, plane seemed to underperform, slow. For the money I would find myself in a new Baron.
 
G2T said:
I also experienced the eclipse, and for the money, I'm taking the jet. The price is the only thing comparable in these two aircraft.
Click to expand...
Guess it depends on what you are looking for. I have a feeling that the Eclipse is going to be a miantence pig.
What was your impression of the Eclipse? Where you let down by it? How many other light turbine aircraft do you have experience with?
 
siucavflight said:
Guess it depends on what you are looking for. I have a feeling that the Eclipse is going to be a miantence pig.
What was your impression of the Eclipse? Where you let down by it? How many other light turbine aircraft do you have experience with?
Click to expand...

It is what it is, the first model of a brand new airplane from a new company. It's not designed to be the fasted or biggest in class, but in comparison to a baron, pretty impressive performance. I have not flown many small turbine aircraft, so I don't have that to compare it to. It might lack in comparison to some of the other VLJ's, but it smokes the piston twin, for not that much more money.
 
G2T said:
It is what it is, the first model of a brand new airplane from a new company. It's not designed to be the fasted or biggest in class, but in comparison to a baron, pretty impressive performance. I have not flown many small turbine aircraft, so I don't have that to compare it to. It might lack in comparison to some of the other VLJ's, but it smokes the piston twin, for not that much more money.
Click to expand...
Yes, I guess that if you are just looking for speed then the Eclipse wins. I dont know, like I said I would choose the Baron if it were me. Too each their own!
 
Swass said:
I've crawled all over the Mustang and I really like it, especially because we already know it's pedigree.

The only plane I don't like is the Piperjet. There is just something about the engine being mounted on the tail that is rubbing me wrong.
Click to expand...

Agreed, the Piper Jet looks like a 2nd grader designed
it. Who knows, the ugly is sometimes the must useful.

Anyone have a SINGLE webpage that shows ALL of
the VLJ's with the progress and performance numbers
and specs?

CE
 
The mustang and phenom have the advantage of proven know-how, and an already in place parts and maintenance network. The eclipse is so far behind and messed up(engines, avionics), so who knows with that. Something not right about speedbrakes that double as landing gear. In the end, I think it will have the durability of a potato chip. The piper-jet is a design joke, and the cirrus jet looks like a jetsons nightmare. Just pure ugly(think 787 cockpit).

Since all of this started, Cessna designed, tested, certified, and delivered a real product. I think the Phenom will be for real. The rest are toys.
 
I would like to see the Mustang in person, after seeing all of the pics, the Mustang gets my vote as far as looks go.
 
What is the objection to the Piperjet? The above-the-CG thrust line? It seems that Piper has given a lot of thought to the engine position, including rotor burst considerations, and trim considerations (check out the design briefs on the following link).

http://www.newpiper.com/piperjet/

If their automatic trim compensation system works, the engine mounting seems like a valid approach to optimize inlet efficiency for a single engine aircraft, vs. s-ducts. It seems like most of the single-engine VLJs are going to mounting the engine in a similar place (Piper Jet, Cirrus Personal Jet, Eclipse Concept Jet), with the single exception being the Diamond Jet, which has twin s-shaped ducts into the engine.
 
Last edited:
I also have a VLJ. You can not see it but I will tell you it is revolutionary. It costs .01 per mile to operate. You can buy it for $500,000.00 new.

Send me a deposit now and I'll let you have it for $400,000.00

Oh, the deposit in non refundable. Also, make the check out to me personally.
 

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