Stratos Aircraft is seeking about $200 million to bring its Stratos 714 personal jet to market, and is in discussions with four potential investors who have expressed a keen interest in the high-performance single, which is making its NBAA debut
Speaking at the show this morning, Michael Lemaire, chief executive of the Redmond, Oregon-based company, said that “while there has been strong investor interest in the programme” Stratos would not open formal discussions until the company had pinned down the aircraft’s performance numbers. “This could be as early as next year,” he said.
The Stratos 714 was launched in 2008 and the proof-of-concept aircraft made its first flight in November 2016. To date the example has logged 80h across 44 sorties, reaching speeds of 320kt (590km/h) and an altitude of 18,000ft.
The second proof-of-concept aircraft will enter flight testing in mid-2013.
The 714 programme as been funded internally to date, Lemaire says. “We have enough money to complete testing of the proof-of-concept aircraft, but will need the investment when we launch the certification campaign.”
The current aircraft is powered by a 2,900lb-thrust Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-5 turbofan, but the certificated aircraft will feature a 3,400lb-thrust PW535-E, says Lemaire.
The 714 is projected to have a cruise speed of 400kt and a range of 1,500nm (2,780km). It is pitched against the Cirrus Vision Jet – currently the only Part 23 certificated single-engined jet on the market – the Embraer Phenom 100 entry-level twin and the Daher TBM 910/930 and Piper M600 turboprop singles.
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Source: Flight Daily News
