Aircraft

Both new personal aircraft will be powered by Williams

Cirrus Design and Piper Aircraft are both expected to unveil single-engined personal jets at this week's National Business Aviation Association convention in Orlando, Florida. Sources say both aircraft will be powered by Williams International turbofans.

Cirrus launched a teaser campaign on the eve of the show, mailing potential customers a package hinting at the performance of "the jet" and inviting them to place a $100,000 refundable deposit, but giving no pricing or timing details.

The CirrusJet, which sources say will be powered by a Williams FJ33, will have a cruise speed of 300kt (555km/h), service ceiling of 25,000ft (7,600m) and a range of 1,850km (1,000nm), and will be equipped with an airframe parachute.

This places the CirrusJet in a similar category to the five-seat Diamond D-Jet, which is powered by a 1,400lb-thrust (6.23kN) FJ33-4, has a maximum cruise speed of 315kt, 25,000ft ceiling, a range of 2,500km and is priced at $1.38 million.

Piper's jet is believed to be a larger aircraft, powered by one Williams FJ44 turbofan. The company has acknowledged that it has begun taking $10,000 deposits on a jet, which its teaser website suggests will be called "Freedom".

The aircraft is expected to fit between the $2 million single-turboprop Meridian and the $4 million HondaJet, for which Piper will provide certification, sales and service support under a business alliance with the Japanese car manufacturer.

Williams, meanwhile, will power Cessna's new Citation CJ4, supplying the uprated 3,600lb-thrust FJ44-4.

The digitally controlled -4, which will be rated at 3,400lb thrust in the CJ4, is a slightly larger derivative of the -3 powering the CJ3, and is the largest in the FJ44 family.