Saker Aircraft Corp. Plans .99 Mach Two-Place Business Aircraft
Emerging luxury jet aircraft manufacturer Saker Aircraft Corporation has opened its order book for what it says is the aviation industry’s most advanced personal jet, the Saker S-1. If it reaches production, the company says it will be one of the world’s fastest and most efficient civilian aircraft available for purchase.
In a news release, Saker said the S-1 would shave an entire hour from a 1,500 NM trip when compared to its closest competitor. It is projected by the company to deliver the lowest cost per nautical mile when compared to any aircraft in its category. Drawing inspiration from military fighters, the Saker S-1 would be a MACH .99, two-seat personal jet for "luxury aviators and the business elite who demand high-octane performance from their personal transportation. Utilizing the latest and most efficient engine technology available, the cost of ownership and operation for the Saker S-1 is set to outperform every jet in its class," according to the release.
“Designing and building the S-1 is a lifelong journey for me," said Sean Gillette, the Founder and CEO of Saker Aircraft. "After several years of designing and refining the style of the S-1, I am happy to see our company move to the next phase of the business plan. We are excited to share our concept with the world, and begin taking pre-orders for the S-1. It is an absolutely stunning aircraft on every account.”
The Saker S-1 is being designed with specific performance goals such as the ability to take-off and land on runways as short as 1,500 ft, climb at 14,000 ft/min and cruise at MACH .95. It is anticipated that the S-1 will have a service ceiling of 45,000 ft and it will travel a maximum distance of 1600 miles with the 500 US gallons of onboard fuel. The range can be extended to 2200 miles by adding 2 external 100 gallon pods.
“In designing the S-1 we put a tremendous amount of time and energy into three areas. First and foremost, we wanted to design an aircraft that was visually stunning and instantly identifiable," Gillette said. "Second, we wanted to offer an aircraft that was incredibly simple to fly, so we have refined the entire cockpit environment, aircraft systems, and aerodynamics to allow any properly trained pilot to fly the S- 1. Third, we wanted an aircraft that was high performing by all measures in terms of speed, fuel efficiency and safety.”
Gillette said the majority of the Saker S-1 will be designed and manufactured in North America. Soon-to-be-announced additions to Saker’s advisory board include former senior executives from leading private aviation corporations.
(Image provided by Saker Aircraft Corp.)