The Stratos 716X very light jet (VLJ) flew for the first time over the weekend from its home base, Redmond, Oregon. The single-engine, carbon-fiber six-place jet will be sold in kit form first—there will be a limited number sold, the company says—with a certified version to follow.
The company had previously been developing a similar model, the 714X, but decided to go with a larger cabin, one that’s comparable in size to entry-level twin-engine jets such as the Cessna M2 and Embraer Phenom 100.
The kit version will be powered by a Pratt & Whitney JT-15D, the same model used in a number of light jets, including the original Cessna Citation 500. The certified model—that program has yet to launch—will feature the latest Pratt turbofan for this class aircraft, the Pratt & Whitney 535E.
The company claims the jet will cruise at 400 knots and have a maximum range of 1500 nm, performance targets that if achieved would make it a compelling alternative to other light jets. Certification programs typically take many years. We’ll keep you apprised as flight testing continues.
