1200 pound payload? So thats like what? 5 passengers with luggage? Oh wait...gotta subtract the pilot and co-pilot...so 3 passengers. Maybe squeeze a few more if you weigh less than the average american.
JFK/LAX can be done for $425 in this jet. http://www.epicaircraft.com/Victory.html Comes out to just under 20 cents per nm. Has the same ceiling and speed. I just did a random search to find this. I think you will find that the smaller jets are pretty cheap to run.
I don't know that the difference should be that large but I would expect a difference. Especially a difference going from JFK to LAX compared to LAX to JFK. There is also generally a travel time difference as well for the same reason. I believe its from the jet stream of air that travels from west to east slowing aircraft down going west and speeding them up going east. Could also be from the earth rotating as well(earth spins pretty fast). This is the kind of "useless" information you learn when you have put on over a half million miles flying around : o )
All the good scam artists are from kenya now. Heck, we even got a kenyan scam his way to the presidency!
some more info A new light aircraft designed around an innovative and revolutionary propulsion system. This ¡°green¡± propulsion system enables the new aircraft to travel in silence at near jet speeds. Imagine taking 6 people in total comfort from New York to Miami on less than 50 gallons of fuel. Yes, it would be less expensive to fly than to drive your car. Hines Aircraft, Ltd is developing this major advancement in light aircraft propulsion that provides real economic and environmental value on a global scale. The new Hines aircraft performance far exceeds all competition. The virtual elimination of sound and vibration is revolutionary. The purchase price, operating and maintenance costs are radically lower than any comparable aircraft. In short, Hines Aircraft next generation technology creates a new standard of light aircraft safety, performance, economy, comfort and total value. Markets. The market opportunity and demand for Hines Aircraft will be dramatic and ongoing. Hines offers distinguished, significant and sustainable advantages as compared to existing private and commercial light aircraft markets. The Hines propulsion systems and airframes can be engineered to comfortably seat 2 to 50 passengers. There are multiple private sector, government and military applications worldwide. The unique and innovative propulsion technology and integrated aircraft designs provide an obvious and considerable value proposition. More so, Hines Aircraft integrates proven existing technology in an efficient and effective manner that is expected to substantially reduce time©\to©\market, financial management and supply chain risk. The FAA forecasts steady long term growth in light aircraft registrations through 2017. Over the last ten years, new unit sales of light aircraft have nearly quadrupled while the value of these sales more than quintupled. The total value of new light aircraft sales reached a record high of $21.9 billion in 2007 or a 16.5% increase over 2006. Global light aircraft 2007 shipments were the highest since 1981, with business jet and turboprop sales increasing 28.4% and 11.4% respectively. As the vast majority of the more than 182,000 active light aircraft are over 25 years old, Hines Aircraft expects to accelerate tax©\advantaged replacement of an aging global light aircraft fleet, as well as considerably stimulate and accelerate new market growth. Operations. Hines Aircraft expects to become a leading producer of innovative aircraft and propulsion systems. The Hines Aircraft business model anticipates the design and sale of aircraft powered by the Hines proprietary propulsion system, and the licensing of the propulsion system and related technologies to select strategic aerospace partners in government, public and private industry. The Company also expects to stimulate significant economic activity in the markets it serves and in the communities in which they are located. The Company expects to assemble aircraft at one or more locations using components manufactured to proprietary engineering standards. Principal development and testing will be jointly managed in United States and Canadian facilities to support FAA certification, which endows near©\global certification. The Company also expects to provide significant value©\added enhancements to certain components at our HINES AIRCRAFT LTD. DISCUSSION MEMORANDUM MAR 2009 PAGE 2 OF 4 facilities. Certain aircraft models will be developed under military and government contracts. The Hines proprietary propulsion system integrates a high performance V8 engine that includes modern engine technology, such as silencing systems, fuel injection and electronic ignition. The engine powers two ¡°propulsion pods¡± featuring multi©\stage 27 inch fans in a shrouded duct. Turbochargers normalize engine pressure to permit certified operation at high altitudes. Liquid cooled engine and exhaust systems improve efficiency and provide effective exterior de©\icing and interior cabin comfort. When this system is incorporated into a composite airframe, the result is safe, silent, vibration©\free and environmentally efficient travel at near©\jet speeds. A recently completed initial phase was funded by $2 million of management equity and enabled Hines to collaborate with leading academic research partners and independent aerospace engineers to develop, confirm and engineer the propulsion systems and aircraft designs. International patents are filed. Work now is underway to complete detailed designs that optimize performance and produce the technology demonstrator on the path toward certification. Ultimately, these efforts also provide detailed engineering needed to specify production and tooling requirements to finalize facility and operational plans. FAA testing and production certification is expected within 48 months, bringing the product for market as the economy rebounds. Management. The Hines Aircraft, Ltd. development team has substantial experience in the airline, civilian and military aerospace businesses, project management, production, operations, finance, marketing, and leadership. For example, team leadership includes a former Boeing Canada CFO, a former Air Attach¨¦ to Canada and the United States, and a former special advisor to the President of the United States. The Company plans to build operating management with the considerable surplus of available experienced aviation executives
while the value of these sales more than quintupled. The total value of new light aircraft sales reached a record high of $21.9 billion in 2007 or a 16.5% increase over 2006. Global light aircraft 2007 shipments were the highest since 1981, with business jet and turboprop sales increasing 28.4% and 11.4% respectively. As the vast majority of the more than 182,000 active light aircraft are over 25 years old, Hines Aircraft expects to accelerate taxÂ]advantaged replacement of an aging global light aircraft fleet, as well as considerably stimulate and accelerate new market growth. Operations. Hines Aircraft expects to become a leading producer of innovative aircraft and propulsion systems. The Hines Aircraft business model anticipates the design and sale of aircraft powered by the Hines proprietary propulsion system, and the licensing of the propulsion system and related technologies to select strategic aerospace partners in government, public and private industry. The Company also expects to stimulate significant economic activity in the markets it serves and in the communities in which they are located. The Company expects to assemble aircraft at one or more locations using components manufactured to proprietary engineering standards. Principal development and testing will be jointly managed in United States and Canadian facilities to support FAA certification, which endows nearÂ]global certification. The Company also expects to provide significant valueÂ]added enhancements to certain components at our.....
"It's a ducted fan engine, which I don't think is the same as a jet engine. " Blimey, wot they teach you at this Uni then?
Ducted fans are nothing new or revolutionary and are NOT silent. Though they usually make less noise than an equivalent propeller. Their fuel burn claims look awfully suspect, as in they don't compute. SFC for IC engines are typically on the order of .42 to .50 or so. Assuming 65% power at cruise that would translate to 17 gallons per hour not the 10 they claim. Almost every aspect of this wreaks of scam. And almost no one with any aeronautical knowledge, training or experience would refer to a DF as a "jet".