The main events of 2020 in business aviation
The business aviation segment was less affected by the coronavirus pandemic than commercial air travel in 2020. Enterprise and general aviation aircraft manufacturers have continued to work on new programs and have gone through important milestones from development to commissioning.
Gulfstream G700
The G700, a new extended-range, large-cabin business jet in the corporate class, took to the air for the first time on 14 February. In November, the fifth aircraft began testing. Based on the G650 platform, the new Gulfsream flagship with a range of 13,890 km and a speed of 0.85M will enter service in 2022.
Dornier Seawings Seastar
The prototype of the new generation of the Dornier Seawings Seastar amphibious aircraft made its maiden flight on 28 March at Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. The aircraft is an advanced version of the original 1984 Seastar, with a digital cockpit, improved propellers and upgraded systems.
Aerion AS2
Aerion Supersonic announced in April that production of the AS2 supersonic business jet will take place in Melbourne, Florida. An investment of $ 300 million will be invested in the assembly line project. The first flight of a supersonic business jet is scheduled for 2025.
Cessna 408 SkyCourier
Textron Aviation's Cessna 408 SkyCourier twin-engine turboprop multipurpose aircraft took off for the first time from Beach Field, Wichita on 17 May. Three test pieces are participating in the certification test program - on their way to first deliveries in 2021.
Epic Е1000
In May, deliveries of the E1000 single-engine high-speed turboprop aircraft began. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certificate was received in 2019, and in July of this year, the American company Epic Aircraft (owned by Vladislav Filev's Russian S7 Aerospace Group) received a certificate for serial production of the model.
Embraer Phenom 300E
The Brazilian manufacturer delivered the first light business jet, the Phenom 300E, in June, six months after launching a modernization program that included increased speed and range, improved onboard equipment and improved passenger compartment comfort.
Stratos 716X
The Pratt & Whitney JT15D-5 six-seater all-composite ultralight single-engine business jet made its maiden flight on July 10 in Redmond, Oregon. The aircraft, which reaches speeds of up to 740 km / h, is proposed as an experimental variant while Stratos is working on certification of the aircraft as a serial aircraft.
Beechcraft King Air 360/360ER
The upgraded version of the Beechcraft King Air 360 / 360ER received a type certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in October. The first delivery took place in November. Improvements include an automatic traction and higher cabin pressure.
HondaJet
In October, the Federal Air Transport Agency issued a type certificate to Honda Aircraft for the Honda HA-420 light business jet (commercial name - HondaJet). HondaJet has a composite fuselage, accommodates 1–2-member crew and 4–6 passengers. The maximum speed is 782 km / h, the practical range is 2234 km.
Learjet 75 Liberty
The light business jet Learjet 75 Liberty entered service in October. To reduce the price of the aircraft and increase its competitiveness, the number of passenger seats in the cabin was reduced from eight to six.
Pilatus РС-24
In November, the Federal Air Transport Agency completed the certification process and issued a type certificate for the Pilatus RS-24 business jet manufactured by the Swiss company Pilatus Aircraft. The jet aircraft, combining the versatility of a turboprop with the qualities of a mid-range business jet, can be operated at airfields with unpaved and grass surfaces. The start of deliveries of the RS-24 to Russia is scheduled for 2021.
Falcon 6X
The rollout of Dassault Aviation's new flagship, a long-range, large-cabin business jet, the Falcon 6X, took place online on December 8. The program marks a milestone over the past decade in realizing the plans and ambitions of the French manufacturer and is on track for commissioning in 2022.