First Flight for Excel's Single Engine Sport-Jet

First Flight for Excel’s Single Engine Sport-Jet

bydanjohnson

Wednesday, September 10, 2008 at 02:30 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The Excel-Jet Sport-Jet, a single-engine Very Light Jet (VLJ) designed by Bob Bornhofen, successfully completed its maiden flight on May 12, 2006.
The jet is noted for its impressive speed and performance, described as "like shooting a BB out of a slingshot!" and targets regular general aviation pilots.
Its development is characterized as an efficient "skunk works" project by Excel-Jet Ltd., rapidly achieving its first flight within two weeks of engine delivery, in contrast to larger, heavily funded programs.

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On May 12, 2006, the Excel-Jet Ltd., **Sport-Jet** (specs) made its maiden flight. The single-engine VLJ is a second generation design following designer Bob Borhnofen’s Maverick TwinJet. The only problem the team reported, “We need a faster chase plane to photograph Sport-Jet!”

OK, as with last summer’s SPLOG on SpaceShipOne, news about a jet may seem odd on a website about Light-Sport Aircraft. Well, it does have “Sport” in its name and it is the lightest of the new flock of Very Light Jets (VLJs). But mainly, I just think this is an impressive development of an American-made single engine jet. Sport-Jet is one spacious, high-performing jet aimed at regular GA pilots. About his first flight, pilot Ron McElroy said it was, “…like shooting a BB out of a slingshot!” Developer Bob Bornhofen and his small, highly-focused team were all smiles. Unlike projects like Eclipse, built on a massive $400 million investment or Cessna, backed by a huge conglomerate, Excel-Jet is more an efficient “skunk works” project. Team Excel flew Sport-Jet within two weeks of delivery of their Williams jet engine. First engine start and taxi tests commonly take 2-3 months. Watch the GA press for more coverage of this cool VLJ. My next SPLOG will return to LSA and ultralights.