Stratos Speedy Experimental Single-Engine Jet Makes First Flight

Here’s how fast it is.

The Stratos 716X very light jet (VLJ) flew for the first time over the weekend from its home base, Redmond, Oregon. The single-engine, carbon-fiber six-place jet will be sold in kit form first—there will be a limited number sold, the company says—with a certified version to follow.

The company had previously been developing a similar model, the 714X, but decided to go with a larger cabin, one that’s comparable in size to entry-level twin-engine jets such as the Cessna M2 and Embraer Phenom 100.

The kit version will be powered by a Pratt & Whitney JT-15D, the same model used in a number of light jets, including the original Cessna Citation 500. The certified model—that program has yet to launch—will feature the latest Pratt turbofan for this class aircraft, the Pratt & Whitney 535E.

The company claims the jet will cruise at 400 knots and have a maximum range of 1500 nm, performance targets that if achieved would make it a compelling alternative to other light jets. Certification programs typically take many years. We’ll keep you apprised as flight testing continues.