The Cessna Citation X is considered as the World’s Fastest Private Jet. It is a medium-sized business jet aircraft which the company has designed to be state of the art as well as uniquely designed to fly at high subsonic speeds. In fact, it is the third fastest civil airplane that has ever flown! Thus it is known to be the fastest private jet available in the world today.

One of its key features is that of its incredibly large diameter in regards to the size of the engine intakes. This feature greatly reduces the noise from the engines as well as improves fuel efficiency.

The design objectives behind the Citation X included transcontinental USA and trans Atlantic range in a mid size package that cruises faster than any other business jet available. This high speed cruise capability, which Cessna says is 105 to 210km/h (55 to 113kt) faster than other mid size corporate jet, means the X can save up to one hour’s flight time on transcontinental US flights, flying from Los Angeles to New York with normal wind conditions in 4 hours 10 minutes. Because of its ability to cruise at high speed at high altitudes, Cessna also says the Citation X will consume less fuel than current jets on such a transcontinental flight.

Other design features of the Citation X include the fuselage cross section of the Citation III, VI and VII but with more efficient use of internal space that allows greater head and shoulder room, an area ruled, waisted rear fuselage, trailing link main undercarriage units and a modern Honeywell Primus 2000 EFIS avionics suite with five colour CRT displays

The Citation X cabin has created its own category – with one of the widest, most spacious and stunningly attractive interiors ever crafted for a Citation. Densely pillowed seats beckon you to sink deeply into the wide-body-jet-size cushions. Generous head and shoulder room gives each passenger his or her own ample space. And, if anyone needs some horizontal time, the seats recline completely to accommodate a nap. The full-length, stand-up center aisle stretches on for almost 24 feet (7.3 meters). There’s also an abundance of space in the private dressing room. Here, you’ll find a vanity with washbasin and wide countertop, a flushing toilet and a large closet.

It’s among life’s little ironies that one of the most beautiful and luxurious places on Earth is often several miles above the Earth. It’s even more ironic that, as desirable as the place is, inhabitants rarely get to spend much time there. In the whisper-quiet cabin of the world’s fastest business aircraft, passengers get where they’re going in an extraordinarily short amount of time.

By Simon Vielma

SWISS PrivateAviation, the business-aviation subsidiary of Swiss International Air Lines, added two further transports to its managed-aircraft portfolio last month. Following a newly-concluded collaboration with Swiss-based Mathys Aviation AG, SWISS PrivateAviation is now responsible for the operation of seven private jets, six of them Cessna Citations. This latest expansion helps further consolidate SWISS PrivateAviation’s position as a specialist in managing this particular aircraft family.

Zurich based Swiss Private Aviation AG is a fully-owned subsidiary of Swiss International Air Lines providing executive jet services as well as aircraft management and commercial charter services on behalf of its parent company. Swiss Private is also the new platform for operation of the Lufthansa Private Jet fleet, formerly operated by Swiss European Air Lines.

This Swiss private jet charter company is in business since 1981and offers a variety of types of aircraft. Since the acquisition, it has become a fully owned subsidiary of Swiss International Air Lines AG. Depending on aircraft availability, short-haul flights within Europe can normally leave within an hour. Long-haul flights to North America, North Africa and the Middle East take two to three hours time for the crew to get ready. It is a fast expanding company, which customizes the services to their clients’ needs, almost without restrictions of their fleet and possibilities.

Aircraft management, in which SWISS PrivateAviation specialises, covers a wide range of services and activities, from managing flight operations and maintaining aircraft fleets to arranging insurance and continuously training crews. In this connection, SWISS PrivateAviation will also be training and assessing the pilots of Mathys Aviation AG, who will continue to fly the company’s two aircraft.

With demand for executive charter flights currently showing sizeable growth, SWISS has decided to enter this segment through SWISS Private, and will use its new subsidiary to offer aircraft management services to private clients and companies. The new activities envisaged include providing assistance and advice on procuring and introducing new executive jets, planning and performing flight operations, recruiting and supplying crews, handling, catering and arranging the requisite maintenance, repair and overhaul services on the customer’s behalf.

Aerion Corporation is an ambitious group of people who want to produce a supersonic business jet.

Aerion has been around for quiet a few years and continues to take deposits for the 8- to 12-seat aircraft it says will be capable of flying more than one and a half times faster than the speed of sound. The company has already received more than 50 deposits totaling more than $4 million. But it hasn’t found a manufacturing partner yet to help build the aircraft.

With the Concorde relegated to museums, there isn’t a supersonic aircraft available for anybody outside of the military who feels the need for speed.The Aerion jet is designed to cruise at speeds up to 1.15 Mach overland without producing a boom on the ground, and at speeds up to 1.6 Mach in other areas. Over the continental U.S., where regulations require speeds below Mach 1, the aircraft can cruise efficiently just below the speed of sound, offering economies comparable to today’s large business jets. The aircraft seats eight to 12 passengers in stand-up comfort and has a range in excess of 4,000 nautical miles.

Aerion continues active development of the jet, expecting to certify the airplane by 2015. Recent wind-tunnel tests have bolstered the wing design critical to making the aircraft efficient at speeds above and below the speed of sound.

The rigidity and the durability of the Aerion supersonic business jet are due to the use of materials of latest technologies. For instance, the wings of the aircraft are made of carbon epoxy that enables the controlling power of the aircraft. The aircraft contains a coated metal that will support its erosion resistance power.

This supersonic jet will fly from coast to coast within a short span of time and the speed is responsible for its straight wing design. The aircraft will take off from various business airports that will have runways measuring within six thousand feet. The cabin size of the Aerion supersonic business jet is quite comfortable and will fit about twelve passengers.

Unlike the Concorde, which could only fly to certain airports through the world because of its operative requirements, this supersonic jet is designed to comply with environmental, sound and airport regulations everywhere. It use the Pratt & Whitney JT8D-219 engines feature take 4,600 miles range over 45,400 pounds of fuel. It will be delivered in 2014, at $80,000,000 price tag for rich guy. The first unit has just been purchased by Sheikh Rashid, the ruler of Dubai.

The South African Police Services bought a R150-million top-of-the-range business private jet so that their top brass can fly to the opening of new police stations and other functions.

The luxury aircraft will be used to usher cabinet ministers and senior officials around South Africa. However, the purchase of the jet has already resulted in serious problems as there have been complaints. Some are speculating why the government has used such a large amount of money for the plane.

Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa revealed his department’s extravagant spending in a written reply in Parliament.

He confirmed that his department had bought a Cessna Citation Sovereign private business jet in February last year to fly senior cops and Cabinet ministers around the country and abroad. Mthethwa, his deputy, Fikile Mbalula, and a number of high-ranking police officials use the aircraft regularly.

Firstly, in a written reply to Parliament the Minister stated that the jet was purchased in February 2008. Now this was long before he was appointed to the police portfolio. Whether the decision was approved under his predecessor, the Minister will not shy away from responding to any financial decision that might have taken place before he assumed office.

For the record, this is not Minister Mthethwa’s private jet, but a South African Police (SAPS) jet and government property. In the written reply, he outlined that the jet’s transportation were all official and operational duties and at no certain point was the jet used for private purposes. The national commissioner has also made a provision that this aircraft can be utilised by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) for specific missions where necessary.

The jet has been effectively used for amongst other purposes: transportation of members of the special task force to hostage situations, for example in Eastern Cape; transportation of police leadership and management; transportation of joint operation and intelligence structure to provinces to evaluate the state of readiness of security personnel regarding the national and provincial elections in 2009; as well as various events such as the FIFA 2009 Confederations Cup and planning for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

 Commercial and private aircraft are marvels of modern engineering, but typically they are fuel-guzzling beasts. As the world moves toward a future of alternative energy and alternative fuels, many are hoping to give the airplane a green makeover. Some are focusing on biofuel-powered aircraft. Others are focusing on using alternative energy, chiefly solar power to power passenger aircraft.

Replacing existing aircraft with solar powered planes is a long-term strategy to reduce carbon emissions. Achieving zero carbon passenger flights will not happen overnight. And no single initiative can provide all the answers. But the airline industry was born by realising a dream that people could fly.

There have been a handful of past solar aircraft, but most have relied on first storing energy in batteries, then flying (one example is the Sunseeker from the 1990s). The HB-SIA, as the new aircraft is called gets enough charge directly from the panels to take off during the day. It does utilize charge stored in batteries to power night time flight. It flies at a relatively slow speed of 28 mph to maximize energy efficiency. The design is intended to be able to fly for multiple days without stopping. 

Last year, A solar-powered aircraft developed by the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich has flown from Zurich to London, setting a world record.The 2.6-kilogram autonomously controlled Sky-Sailor flew more than 27 hours to complete the 874.4 kilometre journey at an altitude of between 200 and 400 metres.It was not the first aircraft of its kind to fly more than 24 hours, researchers said, but was the first to do so without using thermal winds or altitude gain before nightfall. On the craft’s 3.2-metre wingspan are 216 silicone solar cells able to deliver up to 90 watts of power during peak sunlight. The power consumption of the aeroplane is 16 watts at level flight.

 
We can already see the potential building blocks for a carbon-free future: along with solar power, other exciting initiatives include progress in fuel cell technology, and fuel made from biomass. By working together with a common vision, an even greener industry is absolutely achievable.

If successful, the aircraft is expected to prove popular among global carriers, including Middle East airlines. But it’s unclear when the plane would become operational in this region.