SJ30 is back
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SJ30 is back
good news in the light jet market.....
SyberJet Aircraft has rebranded its revamped SJ30 business aircraft as the SJ30i, as well as launching a more powerful version of the light-cabin twinjet, dubbed the SJ30x.
The Cedar City, Utah-based airframer, which broke ground on 1 May at its completion and delivery centre, has named actor and SJ30 owner Morgan Freeman as launch customer for both aircraft, as well being a “brand ambassador” for SyberJet.
“Freeman has been operating his current SJ30 since 2009 amassing over 1,000 flight hours, [including] 12 transatlantic crossings,” says SyberJet, whose parent company, MSC Aerospace, purchased the assets of the former SJ30 owner, Emivest Aerospace in April 2011.
The start-up is planning to fly the SJ30i later this year, equipped with its Honeywell Primus Apex-based flightdeck called SyberVision. The SJ30i will also feature a new interior when it enters service in the second half of 2015.
The SJ30x is scheduled to enter service around two years later, featuring more powerful Williams International FJ44-3AP-25 engines and dual FADEC controls. “The SJ30x will offer more range, quicker time to climb, higher cruise speed at altitude, better hot-and-high performance, increased payload and single-point pressure refuelling,” says SyberJet.
SyberJet Aircraft has rebranded its revamped SJ30 business aircraft as the SJ30i, as well as launching a more powerful version of the light-cabin twinjet, dubbed the SJ30x.
The Cedar City, Utah-based airframer, which broke ground on 1 May at its completion and delivery centre, has named actor and SJ30 owner Morgan Freeman as launch customer for both aircraft, as well being a “brand ambassador” for SyberJet.
“Freeman has been operating his current SJ30 since 2009 amassing over 1,000 flight hours, [including] 12 transatlantic crossings,” says SyberJet, whose parent company, MSC Aerospace, purchased the assets of the former SJ30 owner, Emivest Aerospace in April 2011.
The start-up is planning to fly the SJ30i later this year, equipped with its Honeywell Primus Apex-based flightdeck called SyberVision. The SJ30i will also feature a new interior when it enters service in the second half of 2015.
The SJ30x is scheduled to enter service around two years later, featuring more powerful Williams International FJ44-3AP-25 engines and dual FADEC controls. “The SJ30x will offer more range, quicker time to climb, higher cruise speed at altitude, better hot-and-high performance, increased payload and single-point pressure refuelling,” says SyberJet.
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Some people are very clever in selling to investors.
The basically flawed concept didn't work first time and it won't work now.
What's the betting on airframe sales? Less than 10 deliveries I'll hazard a guess. They'll probably announce 250 orders plus!
The basically flawed concept didn't work first time and it won't work now.
What's the betting on airframe sales? Less than 10 deliveries I'll hazard a guess. They'll probably announce 250 orders plus!
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Lighten up? Yeah right, tell the investors that in a few years time when their cash has gone to $hit!
Anyway come on tell me, why is it such good news for the light jet market?
Anyway come on tell me, why is it such good news for the light jet market?
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Is this serious? What an extraordinarily easy way to lose a staggering amount of money. It was a great, innovative aircraft design twenty plus years ago when being developed but a re-launch, today, in this market!?! It's a tiny cabin pocket rocket that looks nice on the ramp, but really, you'd need your head examining if you paid money for that.
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I have no dog in this fight but it's just an awesome plane (sea-level cabin to F450, speed, range), and now it has a modern flight deck!
Whichever way you cut it, it thrashes the competiton, except maybe the future PC-24...
Whichever way you cut it, it thrashes the competiton, except maybe the future PC-24...
'Orphan' family of one. No name recognition, limited product support.
I'm sure it's a great aircraft but unless you are Morgan Freeman it's probably tough to keep it in the air.
I'm sure it's a great aircraft but unless you are Morgan Freeman it's probably tough to keep it in the air.
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GF: no idea, I haven't been outside in months 
I bet you're all right, and that it's probably a lost cause, and not a good commercial endeavour or product to buy. But... it's still a cool plane.
I bet you're all right, and that it's probably a lost cause, and not a good commercial endeavour or product to buy. But... it's still a cool plane.
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This thing's been lurking around since the late 80's when Swearingen designed it.
Got that weird carrier based landing gear, like they salvaged it off an old F-8 Crusader. Looks like a Falcon 10 and a F-8 decided to have children.
Having Freeman as an "owner-pilot" for a spokesman, probably isn't the best of choices. He's pushing 80 years old, and I don't think he's had a medical certificate since an auto accident a few years back.
Got that weird carrier based landing gear, like they salvaged it off an old F-8 Crusader. Looks like a Falcon 10 and a F-8 decided to have children.
Having Freeman as an "owner-pilot" for a spokesman, probably isn't the best of choices. He's pushing 80 years old, and I don't think he's had a medical certificate since an auto accident a few years back.
Last edited by eelb; 12th May 2014 at 08:55.
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Is there some niche where this would be a perfect plane? Maybe something that routinely requires sending teams of just 1 or 2 people to distant cities, where the destinations usually have pretty long runways (after all, the cessnas and phenoms have shorter field requirements).
My hunch is that for most corporations and high net worth types, while they would appreciate the range and speed, they also appreciate the ability to carry more passengers. It looks like a fighter jet on the outside but it feels like a fighter jet on the inside too. not very impressive to guests like board members or potential clients.
My hunch is that for most corporations and high net worth types, while they would appreciate the range and speed, they also appreciate the ability to carry more passengers. It looks like a fighter jet on the outside but it feels like a fighter jet on the inside too. not very impressive to guests like board members or potential clients.
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The airplane appeals to the wealthy captives of pop culture, who want something unique with a lot of sex appeal. The same people who bought the Beech Starship and DeLorean automobile.
There are more practical ways to get that 2500 mile range. It simply involves paying a copilot, which is chicken feed when talking about an investment of this sort.
If you absolutely need 2500 miles single pilot, buy a 25 year old Citation II and stick some FJ-44's on it, along with the aft tank mod.
There are more practical ways to get that 2500 mile range. It simply involves paying a copilot, which is chicken feed when talking about an investment of this sort.
If you absolutely need 2500 miles single pilot, buy a 25 year old Citation II and stick some FJ-44's on it, along with the aft tank mod.
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The airplane appeals to the wealthy captives of pop culture, who want something unique with a lot of sex appeal. The same people who bought the Beech Starship and DeLorean automobile.
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I wish it the best of luck and am rooting for it. It's still the prettiest little single pilot jet ever made, in my opinion. Ed Swearingen always designed pretty planes.
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Have you ever seen a Metroliner?
I'd have to agree that the SJ30 is a nice looking aircraft. But even more important, there is so much more to owning and operating an aircraft than how it looks or how fast it flies.
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His Dudeness's eyesight is clearly failing........any opticians in the house?
It's last chance for this machine to make it. It surely has a niche as a fast long range light jet. If the support is established efficiently then it is a cost effective aircraft.
If it's about business.....then the SJ30 clearly can still establish itself. The operating numbers are still impressive, even today.
However, they need to have 30-50 of these flying and being supported before the mainstream buyers are goingto start pony'ing up the big bucks for fleet orders.
If they can get past this threshold and taken seriously then other ideas from a creative team could be very interesting for the industry.
It's last chance for this machine to make it. It surely has a niche as a fast long range light jet. If the support is established efficiently then it is a cost effective aircraft.
If it's about business.....then the SJ30 clearly can still establish itself. The operating numbers are still impressive, even today.
However, they need to have 30-50 of these flying and being supported before the mainstream buyers are goingto start pony'ing up the big bucks for fleet orders.
If they can get past this threshold and taken seriously then other ideas from a creative team could be very interesting for the industry.