This article has been updated:
Private jets may be a classic symbol of wealth, but they’ve always lacked a few things, like air-to-air missiles and the ability to break the sound barrier. Saker Aircraft isn’t planning to go quite that far, but they’re certainly ready to give you the next best thing.
Based in Los Angeles, Saker Aircraft’s S-1 is designed to be an affordable, efficient private aircraft, helping you beat rush hour traffic through near-sonic speeds while sporting a menacing military appearance. Although the S-1 is still in the design phase, Saker has stated that their two seat jet will have a service ceiling of 45,000 ft (13,720m) and a maximum range of 1,600 miles (2,575km). If your destination is a little bit farther out, two external fuel tanks can be added to the plane, extending its range to 2,200 miles (3,540km).
In addition to its extensive range, the S-1 has also been designed to maximize energy efficiency while minimizing cost. The plane’s two Williams FJ44-4 engines can deliver near -sonic performance, reaching a top speed of Mach 0.99, while using twenty percent less fuel than rival aircraft. As an added bonus, the jet can also be flown for five thousand hours before it has to be taken in for an engine overhaul, bringing the operating cost of the S-1 to $2 per nautical mile.
According to a brief fact sheet at Saker Aircraft’s website, the 40.5ft (12.3m) long, 27 ft (8.2m) wide S-1 will be able to take off and land on runways as short as 1,500ft (457.2m) allowing it access to nearly every airport on the planet.
Currently, Saker Aircraft is searching for the first round of investment for the S-1 project. If you’re not interested in ponying up the $5.3M the company is seeking for 15% stake in equity, you can still support their efforts by making an “advanced order”. As of this writing, no price tag had been put on the S-1, but really, can you put a price tag on the fantasy of flying your own fighter jet?
Update: Saker Aircraft informed us that S-1's price tag will be somewhere in the ballpark of $5-7 million when it goes into production.
Images Courtesy of Saker Aircraft