Company Plans To Open Order Book At The Event

South African aviation start-up Pegasus Universal Aerospace will present for the first time a one-eighth scale model of its proposed VTOL Business Jet (VBJ) at EBACE in Geneva later this month.

FlightGlobal reports that the company also plans to announce its choice for an avionics supplier at the show, and open its order book for the airplane.

The Pegasus VBJ1 will use two GE Aviation CT7-8 turboshaft engines to drive lift fans inside the plane's cranked dihedral wings as well as provide forward thrust through integrated gearboxes. The airplane is expected to weigh under 12,600 pounds, allowing certification for single-pilot operations. The company anticipates that the airplane will have a range of 2,300 nautical miles, which is reduced to 1,150 nm in VTOL configuration. The cruise speed is estimated to 430 knots, and the endurance is projected to be six hours at 35,000 feet operating from a runway, or 3 hours if VTOL operations are part of the flight plan.

On its website, Pegasus Universal Aerospace says that the aircraft will target "government operations, companies, VIP’s, medical evacuation, anti-poaching, offshore & resource development, as well as A-list business executives, politicians and celebrities, Pegasus One VBJ is about to change how the world’s elite travel and businesses operate. Designed with the capability to land on any surface, including dry grass or gravel, the Pegasus VBJ1  will also possess built up area, helipad and yacht friendly characteristics."

(Image courtesy Pegasus Universal Aerospace)

FMI: Source report