I hope you're right. I suppose it's all about personal transportation. And many Cirrus prop people will probably move up to it. But it requires being typed, getting recurrent; just read the Aviation Consumer article on the Icon A5. Now you want to talk about fun, bullet proof, easy to get into?

...for you.

Others disagree.

Ken,

I agree with your 6 points.

And there are, in fact, hundreds of people who also agree.....and are lined up to buy and fly the SF50. They have the money, the time, the health, the interest, the aptitude, and the experience.

Will it be a success in the long run? I don't know; nobody knows. But, they're gonna sell a boatload of them the first 5 years.

I look forward to seeing them out and about.

I hope you're right. But remember Eclipse had over 2600 orders at one point, about half of them from pilot/owners, and they ultimately produced 266 aircraft.

It remains to be seen whether the SF50 has "price creep" the way the Eclipse did--that cost them some of the orders. Delays cost them some more (bearing in mind that the SF50 has had its share of delays too, and they still haven't finished it). And then there's the issue of guys putting up the deposit but not coming through with the money when the big payment is called for (that actually is how I got my Eclipse--I got it from somebody who couldn't make the big payment).

So, yes I agree they've got a product that has garnered a lot of interest in the marketplace, and I hope they sell well, but I'd be cautious about counting the "sold" planes before they are actually delivered.

Ken

Define a lot of folks...100, 500, 1000? That's statistically zero to the airlines. I think it's a cool plane but the average guy has zero interest in doing what it takes to eliminate the airlines once they find out what all it entails.

Define a lot of folks...100, 500, 1000? That's statistically zero to the airlines. I think it's a cool plane but the average guy has zero interest in doing what it takes to eliminate the airlines once they find out what all it entails.

...for you.

Others disagree.

So are you typed? I suspect not or else you would have jumped right into a Citation for what you paid for that Pilatus. And I suspect you will get typed, but not overnight.

Screwing around on the lake/ flying to Tahoe to ski/ flying over to the islands. You answered my question.

So are you typed? I suspect not or else you would have jumped right into a Citation for what you paid for that Pilatus. And I suspect you will get typed, but not overnight.

Screwing around on the lake/ flying to Tahoe to ski/ flying over to the islands. You answered my question.

You think you're gonna take an Icon on a trip?[/quote]

No, of course not. It's all about having FUN.

For certain mentalities fun would include the mental exercise of flying: another level up though is flying a jet. Typed. Look around though. You can almost count those people, well, right on this board. Now professional flying: that's different.

I actually have always wished the SF50 well. I love the idea of inexpensive personal flight. And I would damn sure fly a single turbine over a single continental anyday. They, eclipse, and the others have bit off a lot to chew. IMHO

Getting typed requires knowing just everything about the plane, and what to do including memory items for every emergency. Many that have had success in life, are very good at memorization, but some will find it challenging. Flying to ATP standards requires half the tolerance of the instrument PTS. Many pilots can do that, but I have flown with some, that never will get there. They squeaked by on the IFR, and find IPC's a challenge.

So not everyone that has that deposit is going to get through the type rating. Most pro-pilots that move up to type ratings were screened by the flight school, the military, or some 135 operation and only those with potential progressed to the point of even starting a type rating. Those without the metal, they just didn't go on, voluntarily or after a wake up conversation with their boss. I will be interested to find out what percent of people that go through SF50 type training have delayed progress, and what percent never get through. I am sure that number is going to be hard to get, but it will be a number.

The standards for a TP or a transition to other high performance aircraft are much lower. Although as individuals we can train to those same standards voluntarily.

Jason,

You should look at the CJ4. It's a "real" jet and will haul your loads and is single pilot. "Real" = speed, altitude and range.

I'm proposing the CJ4 will be Marc's next ride too.[color=#00BF00][/color] (Easy for me to do). He will have to extend his Rwy though.

...for you.

Others disagree.

Possibly. No doubt some others yes. The markets speaks the truth though. VLJ's are hurting. The thrill is gone. The range isn't enough. The load isn't enough. For that much money and effort fly net jets, all you want. Obviously the TP market is hanging in there: less expense, less hassle, maybe a little lower aquistion cost.

Well HELLFIRE. Tell us about it! Did it have the G3000?

I think the bigger market is for folks to buy and hire a pilot. Or even fractional programs that include pilots. If you can afford a new Sea Ray, you can get this SF50.

My buddy owns a fractional SR22 program out of PDK that supplies pilots etc. A lot of my friends use the service. I think it will be more appealing to more people with an SF50..... It's a "jet". Folks like that.