The very light jets and personal jets are often being talked about these days especially the very controversial Eclipse 500. Most often than not, air taxi companies offer their services by using these aircrafts. It is quite an interesting fact that there is another aircraft that is being noticed by a number of aircraft operators.

Photo Credit: CirrusDesign

Cirrus SR22 is already a popular aircraft and has hold the record for having been the best selling single engine aircraft in the last five years but it never reached the kind of publicity that Eclipse 500 has. It is about to change now.

The demand for fuel-efficient aircrafts is high. Aircraft operators want an aircraft that can be maintained with lesser cost. Cirrus SR22 offers a lower average cost and a safety record that encourages operators to use them. Some charter broker can offer prices as low as USD$400 per hour and that low price immediately attracts flying enthusiasts to consider them.

Photo Credit: Cubbie_n_Vegas Photo Credit: FlyGuy92586

These low prices are possible for a Cirrus SR22 since it burns less fuel. If a usual single engine aircraft burns around 50 gallons an hour, the Cirrus SR22 only uses 15-17 an hour. The manufacturer, Cirrus Design Corp. made sure that this aircraft will be more fuel-efficient than the other aircrafts in its class.

Aside from the lower rates, this aircraft can fly direct to destinations that are quite not on the usual travel routes. Although all charter planes are offering this benefit, however, Cirrus SR22 does it in a much, much lower cost than the others.

If the VLJs or the very light jets have been dominating the aviation buzz in the past couple of years then make way for the personal jets. Aviation watchers say that they might be more available and will make headlines very soon.

Epic Aircraft

Photo Credit: Global Jet

These personal jets are smaller than the VLJs and in the past few years, aircraft manufacturers are developing machines and materials so they can be as fast as the very light jets. Since they will be smaller, they will be more affordable and easier to operate and maintain.

Since, the invention of small planes by Bill Lear, there are more and more flying enthusiasts who prefer them than flying via the wide-bodied aircrafts.  There are several personal jets that are being offered by aircraft manufacturers. Seeing the need to save up and lessen the operating expenses due to the price of fuel, they are offering an alternative to the bigger aircrafts.

Some of these aircrafts are the Piper Jet from Piper Aircraft, D Jet from Diamond Aircraft Industries, Vision SJ50 from Cirrus, EA-400 from Eclipse Aviation and Victory from Epic Aircraft among others.

To those who are limited or on a budget, this alternative is a huge thing for them. There are business people who, even if we are in a fuel crisis, still need to travel to handle their business. There are also those who fly for leisure but cannot tolerate the airline/airport protocol will benefit with these personal jets.

It will be of no surprise if more of these jets will soon occupy space in airport runways and hangars.

Almost everyone who is fascinated with aircrafts, commercial or private is familiar with the different air shows conducted in different cities around the world. They are organized and held for different reasons but mostly it is for promoting the aviation industry in general both locally and internationally.

Photo Credit: tonylanciabeta

Some of these events are much anticipated by not only the general commuting public but the manufacturers as well because they usually use the event in launching a new product or idea to the public. The military air shows are held for PR reasons like encouraging more citizens to enlist or pursue military careers or just their way of thanking the public for their support in their endeavors.

There are several air shows these days and there are some that are unique and well organized. The most notable Top 10 Air Shows are the following:

10. Abbotsford International Air Show

This is a 3-day affair held every August in British Columbia. It is Canada’s much anticipated air show which features flying exhibition from the Canadian Armed Forced and the United States Air Force Flying Teams. Many warplanes are on display and some military equipment and machines are being demonstrated. This year, the annual event will be held on August 8, 9, 10, 2008. A USAF CV-22 Osprey will make an appearance at the event. Here’s a detailed map and instructions on how to get there: Getting There.

Photo Credit: tonylanciabeta

09. The Dubai Air Show

It is by far, the largest air exhibition and trade fair in the Middle East. The growing aviation industry in this region attracts a lot of flying enthusiasts both from the manufacturer community and the buying public. The fair is held for five days to which organizers are hell-bent in producing magnificent shows that are truly unique since Dubai is fast becoming a global force to reckon with. This event will be held next year on November 15-19 at Jebel Ali, Dubai, UAE. For more details, check this site.

08. Asian Aerospace

This event has been traditionally held in Singapore but there was a disagreement between the Singaporean Government and the show’s organizers so this coming 2009 it will be held in Hong Kong, China at Asia World-Expo on September 7-10 in 2009. Organizers promised that this Asian Aerospace International Expo and Congress would definitely offer 3 days of successful networking opportunities while taking a peek on the newest trends in business and private aviation in the region.

(To be continued)

US Democratic Presidential Nominee Sen. Barack Obama recently unveiled his new campaign jet, a Boeing 757. It seems that the senator decided to put into good use the USD$52 million he garnered last month from campaign donations.

Since, this presidential campaign will entail him to go several places, short and long ranged destinations he need not change aircrafts anymore as he used to when he was still campaigning for a democratic nomination. He kept on upgrading from the chartered luxurious Gulfstreams and McDonnel Douglas MD-80s to a larger Boeing 737s the whole time he was battling it out with Hillary Clinton.

The aircraft dubbed now as “Obama One”, is a VIP-reconfigured Boeing 757 painted in blue and white. It bears the senator’s campaign slogan, “Change We Can Believe In” on both sides of the plane and a sunrise logo on the tail.

They arranged for the first class section of the aircraft exclusively for the use of the senator and his family plus his top aides while the economy class for the members of the press who joins him in his trips.

The Obama One was unveiled to the public before he departed to the Middle East and Europe. It came at the right time since the Boeing 757 is more equipped to handle his international flights.

Everyone believes that this aircraft will be his official campaign jet until he either upgrade to Air Force One or book a commercial flight back to Chicago before the year ends.

Photo Credit: AFP

The Stratos Aircraft recently unveiled their newest aircraft, a personal light jet called Stratos 714. They claimed that this aircraft will outperform other aircrafts in its category.

The aircraft is a single engine jet that can seat 4 persons and will be powered by Williams FJ44-3AP engines. It is designed just like any other aircraft in its category but differs in its numbers when it comes to performance and specification.

For pilots and aviation geeks, who understand engines and technology, the manufacturer said they employed some parts that are so like the one used in Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star: check here. It was publicly introduced in the EBACE event in Switzerland but will be launched in the United States in the annual EAA Fly-In and Air Show at Oshkosh soon.

The manufacturers are confident that it will have the aircrafts performance numbers because when it was designed, the Stratos engineering team made very conservative assumptions that were analyzed and verified by two aviation experts.  They claimed that it would be smaller, lighter and better.

light jet

The aircraft will undergo a four-year process and target dates for certification and delivery will depend much on funding. If everything goes according to plan and will target a 2010 production, an aircraft will have an estimated price of USD$2M.

At this point, no concrete decisions was made on what kind of avionics suite will be installed but what is definite is that it will have a glass cockpit. One of their main goal in making the aircraft is simplicity while striving to make it faster and fly farther.

Photo Credit: VLJ

It is very obvious during the recent Farnborough Air Show that the aviation industry these days is into a greener state of mind or “marketing”. Skeptics are rolling their eyes and wondering when this new gimmickry will end. Who can blame them? Jets spits out so much CO2 in our environment.

Photo Credit: peter pearson

Although, many manufacturers are trying their best to develop an aircraft that is environment friendly and that are fuel-efficient. Since there are still no concrete alternative fuels that can really be used by aircrafts in general, they are focusing in making sure that new aircrafts will burn lesser fuel.

It is of no surprise anymore that, more aviation companies during the Air Show in Farnborough are talking less of speed and more are boasting of their fuel-efficient planes. This is quite a very different scenario for the annual Air Show. In the past, almost every manufacturer is flashing their speed credentials.

The continuing price increase on fuel brought this kind of unlikely scenario in the aviation industry or probably they are perhaps taking a deeper step in their global responsibility.

Photo Credit: Bleuchoi  Photo Credit: peter pearson

The good thing about this is that the industry is united in trying to make it work. All the participants during the Air Show witness how major aircraft manufacturer showed their active participation in that goal like the recycling garbage cans from Bombardier that says “A New Planet, A New Plane”; an Airbus 380 tail that says “A better environment inside and out” and Boeing’s large tank of green algae as a jet fuel alternative to name a few.

Experts are saying that in time, they all believed that there will be a concrete solution to the problem and that a new biofuel will be developed. Every manufacturer in the aviation industry is doing its share of researching and developing the best possible answer to create a better plane so we can all have a better world.

If a passenger cannot anymore go back to flying commercial or your flight route has been cancelled due to airline cuts resulting from the aviation fuel price increase, get the most affordable way to fly private. Get into the On-Demand Charter Program.

Photo Credit: Airelite

There are several aircraft companies in the market today that offers this type of flying option. One of the best in the industry is the Delta Airelite Business Jets Inc.

Enroll in their Fleet Membership Card and get the chance to experience private flying in the least expensive way. It is very simple, a passenger can choose from the different number of hours card package they are offering like 10, 20 or 50-hour card. Tell them the destination and departure time, the company will arrange for a private jet waiting in the runway.

They promised guaranteed availability and they do not put any expiration date on the card. The company is very transparent with their charges as they will informed card members beforehand that there are certain taxes that are not included yet on the price of the card and there is a fuel surcharged of USD$650.
Just a reminder to interested fliers, always ask for incidental charges such as services given during the flight so there is no chance of surprised charges during billing time.

Photo Credit: Airlite

Delta Airelite is the longest ARG/US Platinum rating holder for air safety and were voted to have the best private aviation service given by American Express ET Magazine. They are servicing destinations in the United States, Canada, Asia, Australia, Europe, Middle East, Central & South America, the Carribean, Canada and Africa.

A 10-hour card will approximately cost a passenger USD$43,900. For more details and information, go to their site: Airelite.

Due to the fast-growing aviation industry in the Middle East, Kingdom of Bahrain’s Civil Aviation Affairs or CAA knew that it is just the right time to create their own business to business aerospace event in their region.

Photo Credit: Bahrain Intl Airport

It was announced at the ongoing Farnborough International Airshow in Hampshire this week. Bahrain’s CAA is coordinating with the organizers of the Farnborough Airshow to help them in planning and creating the necessary requirements and programs needed to hold their own international aviation event. Both the Farnborough Internal Limited and Bahrain’s Civil Aviation Affairs officials already signed an agreement consolidating their proposed partnership.

The target year for the event is 2010 and the proposed venue will be the Sheikh Isa Airbase. It will be a three-day affair and the Farnborough Airshow Limited will be the main organizer of the event while Bahrain CAA will serve as the local liaison firm to deal with their local government agencies and business community.

Photo Credit: Bahrain Intl Airport

As any other international airshows, they hope that the Royal Bahrain Airshow will attract aviation manufacturers, commercial airliners, the military and private flying enthusiasts to do their buying and selling in their region. They are promising that airshow exhibitors and participating companies will enjoy the luxury chalets that they will be building around the venue.

The Bahrain Aviation Industry is looking forward to show what they got in 2010.

This much-awaited Farnborough Airshow is currently underway in Hampshire. It is a long week celebration, which will feature several aircrafts, old and new. This year is extra special not only because the airshow will be 60 this year, they will also be celebrating the 100th year anniversary of aviation first sustained flight.

Photo Credit: Serendigity

The first two days proved to be mega successful as they broke record-breaking number of 180 aircraft orders amounting to USD$28.5 billion. The bulk of the orders came from the fast-rising airlines in the Middle East.

There are a large number of orders for Boeing and Airbus aircrafts such as 787 Dreamliners, Boeing 777, and Airbus A320s to A380

The announcement of orders delighted the Airshow organizers since many aviation watchers thought that with the issue on the fuel price increases, a large number of previous orders will be cancelled but it turned out that there are still many airliners that are expanding their fleet.

 
Photo Credit: tonylanciabeta  Photo Credit: Serendigity 

Aside from the record-breaking orders, Farnborough participants and visitors were happy to be a part of the much anticipated launching of Bombardier’s CSeries. First deliveries for the those aircrafts will be in 2013 and Lufthansa aviation company will be lining up to received them since they signed a Letter of Intent to purchase 30 aircraft with 30 options.

There are more interesting activities that will happen in the next few days until it ends on Sunday, July 20, 2008.  

Using their long experience as one of the leading international airliner, Lufthansa are now offering their services in providing those flying enthusiasts to travel via their private jets to and from a thousand European destinations.

Photo Credit: Mr. T in DC

They are offering their clients a chance to experience a new to fly by just booking a flight on a fixed price based on the distance traveled. No additional hidden charges and they do not charge extra fee for the clients traveling companions. It is quite an innovative way of attracting flyers to use their private jets that can be booked individually at short notice. They make booking so simple without the usual complex leasing or charter agreements.

Lufthansa Private Jets will designate an even coordinator to the client the moment a booking was made. He or she will provide the client all the necessary information about the flight and will make sure that the client will enjoy a trouble-free journey starting from a limousine service to and from the airport. An event coordinator will personally assist the client the moment they arrived in the airport and the clients can use all the Lufthansa First Class facilities and lounges in any airport at any time.

Contact any member of their customer service team for a calculation of your fixed price travel fee.