VisionAire Vantage Entry level Single Engine Corporate Jet
History:
The innovative Vantage is an all new single engine entry level corporate jet, designed to compete against the CitationJet and TBM 700 turboprop.
Self flying businessman James O Rice Jr established VisionAire in St Louis in 1988 after deciding that there existed a significant market for a low cost entry level business jet. Design aims with the new jet include jet comfort and altitude, good short field performance, a large cabin and low acquisition and operating costs.
The Vantage was designed by VisionAire with the assistance of Scaled Composites (whose president is Burt Rutan), with the aircraft's definitive arrangement settled upon in 1993. In February 1996 VisionAire contracted Scaled Composites to design and build a proof of concept prototype, and this aircraft was rolled out from the latter's Mojave, California facility on November 8 1996.
This aircraft successfully flew for the first time on November 16 1996 and it was used to demonstrate performance and handling characteristics before a production configuration was settled upon. VisionAire now aims to achieve certification for the Vantage in 2000. Scaled Composites will build Vantage's wing and vertical and horizontal stabilisers at VisionAire's new Ames, Iowa production facility where final assembly will be undertaken. AAR of Florida has been contracted to build production forward and rear fuselages.
The Vantage's most notable feature is its single JT15D turbofan engine, which is buried in the rear fuselage and fed by two air inlets on either side of the fuselage. The JT15D has been in operation since 1982 on the Beechjet 400 and Citation V, and VisionAire says the proven in service engine would have a shutdown rate per aircraft of once every 250 to 500 years if flown 500 hours per annum. Other notable features include the mid fuselage mounted forward swept wing of relatively large area and graphite composite airframe. It will be certificated to FAR Part 23 Amendment 51.
Performance:
Max cruising speed 648km/h (350kt), economical cruising speed 463km/h (250kt). Initial rate of climb 4000ft/min. Max certificated altitude 41,000ft. Range at max cruising speed 1857km (1002nm), at economical cruising speed 2870km (1550nm).
Weights
Standard empty 1950kg (4300lb), max takeoff 3402kg (7500lb).
Dimensions:
Wing span 14.49m (47ft 6in), production aircraft length 12.65m (41ft 6in). Wing area 20.6m2 (222.0sq ft).
Capacity
One pilot and passenger on flightdeck. Main cabin seats four in standard configuration in a club arrangement. Toilet and baggage compartment in rear of cabin.
Production
At late 1998 VisionAire held orders for 150 Vantages. First two production aircraft due to be completed in early 1999, certification and first deliveries planned for 2000. Unit price approx $US1.8m.
The VisionAire Vantage is really a single engine aircraft produced in the U . s . States. VisionAire and Scaly Composites worked with on the style of the Vantage. The entry-level corporate jet includes a JT15D turbofan single engine and benefits four individuals the primary cabin. The flight deck benefits a couple, such as the pilot.
The Vantage, when empty, weighs in at 4,300pounds and also the maximum takeoff weight is 7,500 pounds. The organization jet provides a total cruising speed of 402 miles per hour as well as an economical cruising speed of 287 miles per hour. The entire licensed altitude is 41,000 ft. The first rate of climb is 4,000 ft each minute. The aircraft is 41 ft lengthy having a 47-feet wing span and 222-square-feet wing area.
VisionAire bought the intellectual property from Eviation about six months ago, although Rice says Eviation owner Matt Eller continues to have a small stake in the new venture. “We are sticking to a single-engine concept. There was nothing like it on the market when the programme was launched [in the 1990s] and there is no comparable aircraft – a single-engine jet with an entry-level size cabin – now,” he adds.
The Vantage will be built in Newton, North Carolina, where the company is planning to open a manufacturing facility by the middle of the year. “In the meantime, we are establishing strategic alliances with composite manufacturers to build the tooling for the Vantage,” Rice says. “Our aim is to fly the first of four conforming aircraft within 20 months, leading to certification and first deliveries in 2016,” Rice adds.
VisionAire has received a positive response from foreign investors and is close to securing a letter of intent for “a large sum of money”. “The interest in the programme has come from offshore in countries such as a China,” Rice says. “In the long term this country could be a big market for the Vantage and we may consider setting up an second assembly base to cater for this demand,” he adds
History:
The innovative Vantage is an all new single engine entry level corporate jet, designed to compete against the CitationJet and TBM 700 turboprop.
Self flying businessman James O Rice Jr established VisionAire in St Louis in 1988 after deciding that there existed a significant market for a low cost entry level business jet. Design aims with the new jet include jet comfort and altitude, good short field performance, a large cabin and low acquisition and operating costs.
The Vantage was designed by VisionAire with the assistance of Scaled Composites (whose president is Burt Rutan), with the aircraft's definitive arrangement settled upon in 1993. In February 1996 VisionAire contracted Scaled Composites to design and build a proof of concept prototype, and this aircraft was rolled out from the latter's Mojave, California facility on November 8 1996.
This aircraft successfully flew for the first time on November 16 1996 and it was used to demonstrate performance and handling characteristics before a production configuration was settled upon. VisionAire now aims to achieve certification for the Vantage in 2000. Scaled Composites will build Vantage's wing and vertical and horizontal stabilisers at VisionAire's new Ames, Iowa production facility where final assembly will be undertaken. AAR of Florida has been contracted to build production forward and rear fuselages.
The Vantage's most notable feature is its single JT15D turbofan engine, which is buried in the rear fuselage and fed by two air inlets on either side of the fuselage. The JT15D has been in operation since 1982 on the Beechjet 400 and Citation V, and VisionAire says the proven in service engine would have a shutdown rate per aircraft of once every 250 to 500 years if flown 500 hours per annum. Other notable features include the mid fuselage mounted forward swept wing of relatively large area and graphite composite airframe. It will be certificated to FAR Part 23 Amendment 51.
Performance:
Max cruising speed 648km/h (350kt), economical cruising speed 463km/h (250kt). Initial rate of climb 4000ft/min. Max certificated altitude 41,000ft. Range at max cruising speed 1857km (1002nm), at economical cruising speed 2870km (1550nm).
Weights
Standard empty 1950kg (4300lb), max takeoff 3402kg (7500lb).
Dimensions:
Wing span 14.49m (47ft 6in), production aircraft length 12.65m (41ft 6in). Wing area 20.6m2 (222.0sq ft).
Capacity
One pilot and passenger on flightdeck. Main cabin seats four in standard configuration in a club arrangement. Toilet and baggage compartment in rear of cabin.
Production
At late 1998 VisionAire held orders for 150 Vantages. First two production aircraft due to be completed in early 1999, certification and first deliveries planned for 2000. Unit price approx $US1.8m.
The VisionAire Vantage is really a single engine aircraft produced in the U . s . States. VisionAire and Scaly Composites worked with on the style of the Vantage. The entry-level corporate jet includes a JT15D turbofan single engine and benefits four individuals the primary cabin. The flight deck benefits a couple, such as the pilot.
The Vantage, when empty, weighs in at 4,300pounds and also the maximum takeoff weight is 7,500 pounds. The organization jet provides a total cruising speed of 402 miles per hour as well as an economical cruising speed of 287 miles per hour. The entire licensed altitude is 41,000 ft. The first rate of climb is 4,000 ft each minute. The aircraft is 41 ft lengthy having a 47-feet wing span and 222-square-feet wing area.
VisionAire bought the intellectual property from Eviation about six months ago, although Rice says Eviation owner Matt Eller continues to have a small stake in the new venture. “We are sticking to a single-engine concept. There was nothing like it on the market when the programme was launched [in the 1990s] and there is no comparable aircraft – a single-engine jet with an entry-level size cabin – now,” he adds.
The Vantage will be built in Newton, North Carolina, where the company is planning to open a manufacturing facility by the middle of the year. “In the meantime, we are establishing strategic alliances with composite manufacturers to build the tooling for the Vantage,” Rice says. “Our aim is to fly the first of four conforming aircraft within 20 months, leading to certification and first deliveries in 2016,” Rice adds.
VisionAire has received a positive response from foreign investors and is close to securing a letter of intent for “a large sum of money”. “The interest in the programme has come from offshore in countries such as a China,” Rice says. “In the long term this country could be a big market for the Vantage and we may consider setting up an second assembly base to cater for this demand,” he adds
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