The SubSonex Jet Brings Do-It-Yourself Jet Travel to Your Garage

The year 2010 is here, and we still don't have flying cars or jetpacks as pulp science fiction novels predicted. While the personal jet pack is not consumer ready, the personal jet might be.

Photo Credit: Sonex

According to Wired.com Autopia blog, The SubSonex is designed to be a modestly priced (as in $60,000 modest) private jet that fits in your garage.

Don't expect luxury jet comfort for that price, you have to put it together yourself and it only flies one person. The story reports that SubSonex has only done ground tests, but is expected to hit a cruising speed at over 240 mph and climb to 2,000 feet.

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Source: Autopia and Sonex

Eclipse Aviation Introduces Eclipse 400 Single-Engine Jet

© Eclipse Aviation Corporation, 2008

Eclipse Aviation recently announced they are taking orders for the Eclipse 400 single-engine jet, a production version of the Eclipse Concept Jet first displayed at EAA AirVenture 2007.

© Eclipse Aviation Corporation, 2008

According to Eclipse Aviation, they are rewarding many loyal Eclipse 500 customers by allowing them to be the first to place deposits on an Eclipse 400. Additionally, Eclipse 500 customers will receive an exclusive $125,000 discount off the final delivery price provided their deposits are placed prior to July 25, 2008. Deposits from all others will be accepted starting at EAA AirVenture in July 2008.

© Eclipse Aviation Corporation, 2008

"Ten months of quantitative and qualitative Eclipse Concept Jet (ECJ) research has convinced us that this is absolutely the right airplane for the emerging single-engine jet market," said Vern Raburn, Eclipse Aviation president and CEO. "The ECJ has elicited a tremendous emotional response from current and potential customers alike – people just love this airplane. We are excited to formally add this new aircraft to the Eclipse Aviation product family as the Eclipse 400."

© Eclipse Aviation Corporation, 2008

At an estimated 330 knots, the environmentally-friendly Eclipse 400 uses less than one pound of fuel per nautical mile — making it the world's most fuel-efficient jet aircraft.

© Eclipse Aviation Corporation, 2008
Source: Eclipse Aviation

The Next Generation Of Private Jets And "The Jet" From Cirrus Design

Halogenguides.com features a report on the four trends for the next generation of private jets.

What will the future of private aviation hold? We already know that flying cars are out (for now).

According to the story, the bodies of private jets will likely be constructed from lighter and stronger composite material instead of aluminum. Designers are striving to build supersonic jets that will dampen the impact of sonic booms. The engines of new jets will be greener, saving fuel and reducing emissions.

Cirrus Design offers a glimpse of what future private aircraft with the concept simply called The Jet.

According to Cirrus Design, The Jet will be powered by a single-engine Williams International FJ33-4A-19 Fanjet, small enough to be stored in a conventional hangar, and feature controls simple enough to enable single-pilot flight.

Source: HalogenGuides.com and Cirrus Design

Honda aircraft building plant in North Carolina

Assembly Magazine reports that Honda Aircraft is building a 215,000-square-foot headquarters and hangar complex at North Carolina's Piedmont Triad International airport.

The plant will produce the HondaJet, Honda's entry into the market for light jet aircraft.

The new facility is already taking orders for new aircraft, which should be delivered around 2010.