The Stratos 714 looks (on paper) to be the best looking and best preforming VLJ under development. They claim 4 people, 400 knots, with a 1500 NM range plus reserves @41,000 feet!

The price is $2,000,000.00. I hope they pull it off.

http://www.stratosaircraft.com/index.html

I looked at it at NBAA.

Too small.

I understand that as the first take. I'm not so sure that 4 seats is going to be a deal killer.

It's about the same price price as the Meridian, which is only an honest, two place airplane. The Stratos has almost double the full fuel payload, it has 600 NM in extra range, and it's way faster. The Stratos cabin is slightly wider and taller than the Meridian, just not as long.

The PiperJet has more seating, but can you fill them? I don't think you can get more out of a single turbofan. The Cirrus is in between, but comes up short in preformance.

At least they're not killing speed and range with empty seats.

Eclipse Ver. 2.0???

The Cirrus SF50....800 lbs @ 800 NM @ 300 knots @ 25,000'.

The Stratos 714....900 lbs @ 1500 NM @ 400 knots @ 41,000'.

Rick,
Sounds awesome. I don't remember looking at the Stratos before.

But, how do they deal with depressurization due to potential power loss at 41,000? Just one engine at 41,000 sounds a little hairy. Time of usefull consciousness being only a few seconds, does a single pilot have to fly with a full mask on?

I ask this because I believe that when one crew member leaves the cockpit in a high flying jet, the other is required to wear their full face mask in case of decompression. Just wondering if that altitude with a single power plant scares anybody else.

Rick,
Sounds awesome. I don't remember looking at the Stratos before.

But, how do they deal with depressurization due to potential power loss at 41,000? Just one engine at 41,000 sounds a little hairy. Time of usefull consciousness being only a few seconds, does a single pilot have to fly with a full mask on?

I ask this because I believe that when one crew member leaves the cockpit in a high flying jet, the other is required to wear their full face mask in case of decompression. Just wondering if that altitude with a single power plant scares anybody else.

Greg,

Loss of an engine could get exciting at 410.... but could be quite survivable. The cabin won't decompress right away, and could be tight enough to offer a reasonable emergency descent. And a quick don mask would be a requirement, I'm sure. An explosive decompression would be much worse.

Rick,

Go read that VLJ thread I started.

I beat the bushes real good at NBAA.

Nothing beats a turboprop. If you want speed and range and useful load, nothing beats the TBM.

NO VLJ COMES CLOSE TO BEATING A TBM.

Maybe a single engine jet will be the exception. But I'll believe when someone has one available. I certainly won't be the first in line for a Stratos.

I agree. I would definately buy the TBM at this point in time. It's just interesting to follow.

My wife loves the TBM (Pilatus too) and would be fine if I bought a second home in the mountains (Sedona or Sante Fe) and a turbine, instead of our current boating life. It's the first time that I'm not sure what I really want to do.

It's a good problem to have.

As far as boats..... I've never had a "boating life" so I am speaking from ignorance but... I feel I would rather have a home in the Bahamas (for example) that I fly to than have a boat in the Bahamas that I stay on when I am there.

I have stayed on friends big yacht in Bahamas and it truly is an amazing lifestyle. But none of them had airplanes either. The only thing I didn't like about their boating lifestyles was the constant "upkeep" and "worry" regarding the boat. The boat always had to be moved due to a hurricane. It always needed a captain. It always need to be washed or worked on etc. It just seemed like something always had to be done.

A whole post about turboprops and you are not singing the praises of the Pilatus over the TBM ?

I think for speed and range, nothing beats the TBM. For range, payload and a potty, nothing beats the Pilatus

Rick

Let me know if you and your wife are ever coming to Sedona for a visit. It is a great place for a second home. There are lots of good deals in this economy.

Russ

Oh yes I am. I said repeatedly in that post that my next airplane, if I ever get one, will be a PC12. Nothing matches up to it.

But if it were really just me and my wife and the occasional other couple, I'd do the TBM. I potentially will be hauling lots of folks lots of places.

It's a good problem to have.

As far as boats..... I've never had a "boating life" so I am speaking from ignorance but... I feel I would rather have a home in the Bahamas (for example) that I fly to than have a boat in the Bahamas that I stay on when I am there.

I have stayed on friends big yacht in Bahamas and it truly is an amazing lifestyle. But none of them had airplanes either. The only thing I didn't like about their boating lifestyles was the constant "upkeep" and "worry" regarding the boat. The boat always had to be moved due to a hurricane. It always needed a captain. It always need to be washed or worked on etc. It just seemed like something always had to be done.