Stratos Aircraft is hoping to secure at July's AirVenture show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the first round of funding for its four-seat personal jet.
The world's largest general aviation show will also mark the unveiling of a full-scale cabin mock-up of the $2 million Stratos 714, which customers will be able to order for the first time at the seven-day event.
"The first round of funding is for around $12 million, which will cover the cost of designing and building the first two flying prototypes and a static test article," says Stratos co-founder and chief executive Michael Lemaire. "This will take around 18 months to complete. Funding for the second phase - which will cover the certification programme - will be in the region of $100 million.
 |
|---|
© Stratos Aircraft |
"While these are difficult times to raise investment - particularly for start-up manufacturers - we are confident we have a unique product that flies further and faster - 2,780km [1,500nm] at 400kt [740km/h] with a full payload - than any other comparable-size aircraft on the market today."
Lemaire says that since the company was established around three years ago he has sought to develop a "secure and viable business. Once the orderbook is open we hope to show investors that there is a great interest in this product."
The carbonfibre Stratos 714 is powered by a FADEC-equipped Williams International FJ44-3AP and is set to compete with the Cirrus SF50 Vision, Diamond D-Jet and PiperJet in the increasingly crowded personal jet sector. Bend, Oregon-based Stratos is also targeting owners of high-performance piston aircraft looking for a 50% increase in speed, or turbine aircraft owners eager to save money on fuel while maintaining performance.
Current design parameters include a 3,175kg (7,000lb) maximum gross weight airframe, laminar flow wing with blended winglets and a cruciform tail. The 3,000lb-thrust (13kN) engine is to be located aft and below the wing with symmetric inlets ahead of the wings. The passenger cabin is to be 132cm (52in) high by 142cm wide and pressurised to sea level conditions up to 25,000ft (7,620m) and 6,000ft at its maximum operating altitude of 41,000ft. Baggage areas are to be provided in the nose and tail sections.
Source: Flight International
