4 ms·

This article[1] is a very good explanation for why VLJs are un-economical and will never have the speed, range, and efficiency of a larger jet. Written by Austi

by joshwa 15y ago

This article[1] is a very good explanation for why VLJs are un-economical and will never have the speed, range, and efficiency of a larger jet. Written by Austin Meyer, the developer of X-Plane, an FAA-approved flight simulator package (and seeming inheritor of the MSFS legacy). [1] http://www.x-plane.com/adventures/50_avanti.html http://www.x-plane.com/adventures/50_avanti.html

frisco 15y ago
I guess I don't really care if it's a jet or a turboprop. The point about the relationship between surface area and volume and drag is a good one. It'd be really cool if your VLJ was supersonic, in which case you win a lot for being really small, but there are other problems there that are even more serious. On the topic of the specific plane in the article, I've seen the Avanti and its range still sucks wrt what I want. Also, I wouldn't call X-Plane the inheriter... it's been around forever, too!
- joshwa 15y ago
  More like inheritor of the MSFS developer community and userbase now that FSX is abandonware. Looks like you need a G-V or a Citation X. :)
  - frisco 15y ago
    Neither the G-V nor C-X are rated for single-pilot operation... :(
    - joshwa 15y ago
      Now there's the new G650: Mach 0.925. :) But fastest single-pilot-rated is the Hawker 200, which does 465kt, but only 1500nm range. (An F-15 can do 3000nm in ferry configuration... Or I wonder if you can contract with USAF to arrange in-flight refueling over Nebraska?)
VladRussian 15y ago
while all this is true, there is still some interesting possibilities - 300mph non stop around the world (25K+ miles): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Atlantic_GlobalFlyer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Atlantic_GlobalFlyer with only 1/5 of the fuel it would be a VLJ by weight (though not really by other parameters like wingspan, landing and maneuvering characteristics...) with range of 5K+ miles at least.

by joshwa 15y ago

frisco 15y ago

I guess I don't really care if it's a jet or a turboprop. The point about the relationship between surface area and volume and drag is a good one. It'd be really cool if your VLJ was supersonic, in which case you win a lot for being really small, but there are other problems there that are even more serious. On the topic of the specific plane in the article, I've seen the Avanti and its range still sucks wrt what I want. Also, I wouldn't call X-Plane the inheriter... it's been around forever, too!

joshwa 15y ago
More like inheritor of the MSFS developer community and userbase now that FSX is abandonware. Looks like you need a G-V or a Citation X. :)
- frisco 15y ago
  Neither the G-V nor C-X are rated for single-pilot operation... :(
  - joshwa 15y ago
    Now there's the new G650: Mach 0.925. :) But fastest single-pilot-rated is the Hawker 200, which does 465kt, but only 1500nm range. (An F-15 can do 3000nm in ferry configuration... Or I wonder if you can contract with USAF to arrange in-flight refueling over Nebraska?)

VladRussian 15y ago

while all this is true, there is still some interesting possibilities - 300mph non stop around the world (25K+ miles): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Atlantic_GlobalFlyer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Atlantic_GlobalFlyer with only 1/5 of the fuel it would be a VLJ by weight (though not really by other parameters like wingspan, landing and maneuvering characteristics...) with range of 5K+ miles at least.