Business Jets To Watch In 2010

Embraer Legacy 650

The Legacy 650 is a new version of the large-cabin business jet based on Brazilian manufacturer Embraer’s ERJ 135 regional jet. Compared with the Legacy 600, the 650 offers more than 500-nm. additional range as a result of adding fuel, uprating the Rolls-Royce AE3007 engines and using the beefed-up wing from the ERJ 145XL to increase maximum takeoff weight. Range with four passengers is increased to 3,900 nm. The aircraft first flew in September 2009, and certification is planned for the second half of this year. The Legacy 650 joins the new Phenom 100 and 300 light jets and ultra-large-cabin Lineage 1000 in Embraer’s lineup, with the all-new Legacy 500 mid-size and Legacy 450 medium-light jets to follow in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

Credit: EMBRAER

Gulfstream G250

The super mid-size G250 made its first flight in December at Israel Aerospace Industries in Tel Aviv, where the business jet will be manufactured alongside the mid-size G150 for completion by Gulfstream in the U.S. The aircraft is a development of the slow-selling G200, which it will replace in production, outfitted with a longer cabin, all-new and larger transonic wing, more powerful Honeywell HTF7250G engines, new T-tail and integrated flightdeck based on Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics. The G250 offers a 3,400-nm. range at Mach 0.8 and a maximum speed of Mach 0.85. Three aircraft will complete a 1,300-hr. flight-test program in Israel, leading to certification and entry into service in 2011.

Credit: GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE

Gulfstream G650

Gulfstream’s new flagship, the G650, will be the largest, fastest and farthest-flying purpose-designed business jet when it enters service in 2012. Compared with the G550, which will continue in production, the aircraft has a longer and wider cabin, a high-speed wing with greater sweep and area, fly-by-wire flight controls and more-powerful Rolls-Royce BR725 engines. The G650 offers a 7,000-nm. range at Mach 0.85 and a maximum speed of Mach 0.925. The fuselage and wing are metal, and the horizontal stabilizer is a composite. Fokker supplies the empennage and bonded fuselage panels, and Spirit AeroSystems the wing. First flight took place in November and five aircraft will complete more than 1,800 hr. of testing, with certification scheduled for 2011.

Credit: GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE

Bombardier Learjet 85

While Bombardier has cut back production of current Learjets because of the steep decline in business aircraft sales, it has continued to invest in development of the all-new, mid-size Learjet 85 to achieve the planned 2013 entry into service. The aircraft will be the first all-composite business jet certificated by the FAA under Part 25 rules. Carbon-fiber airframes will be manufactured at Bombardier’s plant in Queretaro, Mexico, for final assembly and completion at the Learjet facility in Wichita, Kan. Powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW307B engines, and with a Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion integrated flight deck, the Learjet 85 will offer a range of 3,000 nm. at Mach 0.78 and a high-speed cruise of Mach 0.82.