Development
Chief technology officer Carsten Sundin launched the VLJ project with CEO Michael Lemaire, aiming for higher speed and range than competitors. Sundin joined Lancair in 1993 after graduating and became engineering manager on the 240 kn (440 km/h) Lancair Legacy 2000. In 2003 he joined Epic Aircraft to become engineering manager on its new single turboprop and met the aerodynamicist of the Farnborough F1, Gordon Robinson. Farnborough Aircraft and Epic formed a joint venture to develop the smaller kit Epic LT along the FAR-23 certificated F1, sharing their wing, engine and tail, and Sundin Left Epic in 2005. [1]
The project was unveiled on 16 July 2008, touted as an owner-flown Very Light Personal Jet. [2] A cabin mock-up was shown at AirVenture in July 2009. At that time the company predicted the jet would sell for about US$2M. The company was seeking US$12M to build two prototypes and a further US$100M to complete certification and commence production. The company CEO, Michael Lemaire, indicated in 2009 that the aircraft will fill a performance niche, as there is no other four seat aircraft with the 714's speed and range. [3] [4] The company was accepting refundable customer deposits of US$50,000 to be held in interest-bearing escrow in 2009. [5] The first deposit was made by Cascade Air Charter, of Bend, Oregon in October 2009. [6]
First flight of a proof of concept aircraft was achieved on 21 November 2016 before a public introduction at AirVenture in July 2017, with no firm schedule for certification. [7] It is registered as N403KT. [8]
In February 2017 prototype flight testing continued. The company did not have the funding to complete certification, and was no longer accepting deposits from customers. Stratos CEO Michael Lemaire indicated at that time, "we are privately funded for the prototype phase, during which we are planning to explore the full flight envelope and draw conclusions for the certification stage. We are not yet funded for the certification phase. At present, we have no plan to take deposits towards deliveries, which are still many years away." [9] While investment is sufficient for an additional prototype and to finish flight testing, certification would need in the range of at least $200 million. [10]
Stratos estimates type certification would need $100–150 million, but this could triple, and considers as an intermediate step selling aircraft kits needing a $200–400 thousand JT15D-5 with a few hundred hours before TBO. Production aircraft with a $900,000 PW535E are targeted for $3–3.5 million, 50% more than a Cirrus SF50 but competitive with $4.5-5 million twin very light jets with its 400 kn (740 km/h), 1,500 nmi (2,800 km) range, 600 lb (270 kg) full fuel payload and consuming only 1.16 lb/mi (0.33 kg/km) cruising at FL410, while used aircraft at this price have lower efficiency, dispatch reliability and inferior technology. [1]
By July 2018, the 714 prototype had flown 185 flight hours, reaching 25,000 feet and 370 knots. [11] The proof-of-concept aircraft had logged 250 hours by April 2019, [12] and 330 hours by January 2020. [13]
Stratos 716X
In May 2018, after 170 hours of test flying, Stratos decided to stretch the fuselage by 31 in (77.5 cm) to better accommodate six adults with bags. The aircraft was to be named and unveiled in the third quarter of 2018, with a first flight likely in 2019. [14] Powered by a 3,000 lbf (13 kN) PWC JT15D-5 with single-lever control, The 716X was unveiled at the July 2018 EAA AirVenture, to be available as a kit in the fourth quarter with a stretched and 2 in (51 mm) wider fuselage than the 714. Before production of a certified version in four to five years, Stratos intends to sell three kits per year. The kits will each take 2,500 hours to build, in the same manner as an Epic LT single turboprop. [11]
By April 2019, Stratos was building the fuselage for the first prototype. A full-scale cabin mock-up will be displayed at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in July. A 3,400 lbf (15 kN) PW535 will propel the certificated version, featuring Garmin G3000 or G5000 avionics. [12] By January 2020, load testing had been completed, while the first prototype was being assembled. The company intends to conduct high-speed taxi tests in the second quarter, with first flight forecast for the second half of 2020. The company intends to start taking orders once flight testing is under way. Stratos forecasts a production rate of 30 to 50 aircraft per year. [13]
On July 2, 2020, the 716X made a 22 minute maiden flight from Redmond, Oregon, climbing to 13,500 ft and launching a flight-test program that will last several months. [15]
