SJ30 is back
Join Date: Apr 2003
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It would be a very risky investment, pretty or not. If you can get something close to that from Cessna, say, then you would be looking at a lot less risk when it came to getting your money back.
Another thing: A big company such as Cessna has so much more depth to its engineering and support. Imagine you are grounded someplace far, far away, when you need a knurled flange bracket "yesterday." Who are you going to want to call for that, the big company, or a tiny one?
Another thing: A big company such as Cessna has so much more depth to its engineering and support. Imagine you are grounded someplace far, far away, when you need a knurled flange bracket "yesterday." Who are you going to want to call for that, the big company, or a tiny one?
Join Date: Jan 2010
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SyberJet Displays New Cockpit Mockup at NBAA 2014
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It will have a market simply because of one simple fact: There is no SP jet that can even come close to its range.
You want to do NY to LA nonstop against winter headwinds? LA to Hawaii? Rome to Dubai? Forget it as SP - no CJ3/4, Phenom, PC12, TBM can do it. This is the only game in town.
You want to do NY to LA nonstop against winter headwinds? LA to Hawaii? Rome to Dubai? Forget it as SP - no CJ3/4, Phenom, PC12, TBM can do it. This is the only game in town.
Join Date: Jul 2010
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The SJ30 is a beautiful design but it's 30 years old (launched in 1986)! It's tiny inside, really cramped cabin, it's too expensive at around US$9m and there simply isn't the vast sums of money behind it to sustain production, support it globally, evolve and update it through production. It's day has been and gone. Yes, it has amazing performance, still, but the chances of it surviving are minimal where it only fits a very niche, very small corner of the market, great for the rich owner-flyer pilot enthusiast sitting at the front end, but not so great for the family in the back.
The industry has seen a multitude of startup jet designs, and the odd turboprop too, of which the vast majority fall by the wayside. The sums of money required to maintain production, certification, product support, product improvement and upgrades, modernisation etc. are simply staggering. The cash will run out in a blink of an eye, ask Bombardier how much you need.
The industry has seen a multitude of startup jet designs, and the odd turboprop too, of which the vast majority fall by the wayside. The sums of money required to maintain production, certification, product support, product improvement and upgrades, modernisation etc. are simply staggering. The cash will run out in a blink of an eye, ask Bombardier how much you need.
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it's 30 years old (launched in 1986)
CJ and Lear 45 series are nearly 25 years old...
LA to Hawaii?
I just ran this and if you climb to FL470 halfway through the flight, with no alternate and no taxi fuel, you land with 610lbs. I've seen a CJ classic land with 600lbs in the tanks once but that was deliberate because it was before maintenance, VFR, with airfields everywhere.
The SJ30 is an impressive aircraft though and if I had $9m to spare and they had made a dozen more of them, I would consider it over the CJ4 which is similarly priced.
Join Date: Apr 2010
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Sure it looks do-able on paper..and it sells jets...but not a viable option for Hawaii. Not by those numbers. Wet footprint. Contingency planning for S/E drift down or loss of cabin pressure at ETP would be a no-go for any prudent pilot.
I've been making the California-Hawaii run since 1990 in various types of bizjets...some more capable than others but would never launch with a wet footprint.
Having said that I have seen, through the years, Lear 36, Sabreliner, WW2 and HS 125 on the ramps in Hawaii...this is a 2200nm crossing with no diversion alternative but to turn back. Throw caution to the wind and anything is possible I suppose.
I've been making the California-Hawaii run since 1990 in various types of bizjets...some more capable than others but would never launch with a wet footprint.
Having said that I have seen, through the years, Lear 36, Sabreliner, WW2 and HS 125 on the ramps in Hawaii...this is a 2200nm crossing with no diversion alternative but to turn back. Throw caution to the wind and anything is possible I suppose.