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Sport-Jet Weighs In

MONUMENT, COLORADO March, 2005

"Airplanes, like their pilots, tend to gain weight over time," says on oft-repeated statement of aircraft owners. In the same vein, aircraft in development always seem to end up with many more pounds than originally conceived. But the Sport-Jet is not your common aircraft in development and Excel-Jet, Ltd is not the typical development team.

The Excel-Jet Ltd. skunkworks operated by entrepreneurial jet designer, Bob Bornhofen, is not creating its single engine Sport-Jet in the same way that other very light jets are being developed. Usually companies raise lots of money, hire large staffs of engineers and technicians, and occupy large facilities. All this happens on investor money and years before any products (or revenues) are produced. Not at Excel-Jet.

The Sport-Jet is being developed by a small team working efficiently and quickly. Can it work? It already has! Similar to Rutan and Space Ship One development, Bornhofen also believes in a small efficient and focused team. It was Bob Bornhofen who designed the Maverick TwinJet and flew to AirVenture in 2000. This aircraft was test flown to 250 KTIAS and won praise from Bob Hoover for its flight handling qualities. Three of these jet kits were completed and flown to speeds above 340 knots. No other very light jet developer can make such a claim.

As proof, the Excel-Jet team put the prototype Sport-Jet on scales to find the aircraft may come in under the design empty weight of 2,800 pounds. Yet the single engine marvel has a wider cabin than most in the VLJ race. The Sport-Jet features a composite fuselage that mates to an aluminum tail and wings; a weight efficient choice that Excel-Jet believes will also aid certification. Wings are being completed by an overseas supplier (in much the same way Boeing and Airbus sublet component parts to other producers). Bornhofen expects to fly the Sport-Jet this spring.

Excel-Jet's new model is a single-engine, all-glass aircraft aimed at the general aviation pilot. Sport-Jet has been designed for single-person operation by a pilot trained in piston-powered airplanes. Many advanced features and a simplified design eases pilot workload. "This will contribute significantly to the insurability of the aircraft when operated by nonprofessionals," added Bornhofen. The new model will sell for around $1 million, will cruise at 340 knots at 25,000 feet (above 95% of all weather), and can carry four persons over 1,000 nautical miles.

Excel-Jet Ltd. is a Colorado corporation formed to bring a new generation of light jet to the market.

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