Quoted from Pilot Mag Dec 2009
"Despite a crash in 2006 and a general aviation and business community that has left very light jets for dead, the prototype Sport Jet has flown once again and the company, Excel Jet Ltd., is reworking the next generation."
I was not aware that the Sport-Jet has flown again!?!?!? I know sensationalism is part of journalism to sell magazines, but this is irresponsibility..how does a quote like this make it into a magazine...Correct me if I am wrong, but from what I have seen/read all Bornhofen has is a fuselage....Since when do mock-ups fly?
It is this over-hyped B.S. that doomed the VLJ market in the first place...C'mon Pilot Mag..a little responsibility Please!!! SMH!!!(shaking my head!)
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Comments:
Excel-Jet Story
Hey GroundedOne, Your comments about the Sport Jet are noted and interesting. A couple things you may have overlooked are: (1) the writer of the story, Ron McElroy, was one of the test pilots who actually flew the first Sport Jet, I believe about 25 or so flights, and (2), Bob Bornhofen was the designer and builder of the very first VLJ, the Maverick Jet, which are still flying to this very day. As for the "over-hyped B.S. that doomed the VLJ market in the first place," this is not what "doomed" the VLJ market. What "delayed" the VLJ market was the fact that engine and avionics technology had not developed to the point to make these small personal jets a reality until now. The early attempts were just that. They were attempts to develop a product that has just now become possible due to technology advances. Advances that would not have come but for their desire to develop these products. The companies that continue to push forward and develop these jets now (Cirrus, Diamond, Piper,and even Sport Jet), will be successful. It just takes perseverance and a boat load of money! I seem to recall that going to the moon started with an idea and lots of hype too! Luckily for us, guys like Bob Bornhofen keep pushing on regardless of people who say they can't do it or that it is all a bunch of hype. I would like to fly one of these planes someday and I believe that I will and will write about it in the very NEAR future. Thanks for your comments and keep them coming! Sincerely, Brad Irwin CEO - Pilot Magazine, LLC
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