Data Analysis Will Verify Performance And Handling Predictions

On November 21, the Stratos 714 took to the sky, according to information received from project partner Abbott Aerospace.

Stratos brings to the table a history and experience of developing and working with kit aircraft. The Stratos 714 was devised as a response to the lower performance single engined VLJs proposed about a decade ago – the D-Jet, the Cirrus Jet and the Piper Jet – and some others, according to Abbott Aerospace. Stratos saw little advantage in developing a single jet-engined aircraft that has lower performance than an equivalent propeller aircraft. They decided to go high and fast, therefore the Stratos 714 has a service ceiling of 41,000 ft and will cruise at 415 KTAS.

The next steps for the company will be to gather flight test data and prove out the performance and handling predictions. Then Stratos have to decide what to do next, and they have to find a way avoid the VLJ single graveyard. The only bright spot is the recent release from the certification long-term care unit, the Cirrus jet – and even that ‘success story’ is many times over the original budget and many years late.

(Image provided with Abbott Engineering blog post)

FMI: www.stratosaircraft.com