PiperJet Personal Jet Flies for First Time

Piper Aircraft's PiperJet personal jet, the first jet design in the company's 71-year history, flew for the first time on July 30, 2008. The flight, from Piper's base at Vero Beach, Fla., lasted an hour. Credit: Piper Aircraft

Piper Aircraft's PiperJet is the latest personal jet to take to the skies.

The prototype PiperJet — the first jet-powered design in Piper's 71-year history — made its first flight at 11:11 a.m. yesterday from the company's main base at Vero Beach, Fla. The aircraft flew for an hour, reaching a maximum altitude of 10,000 feet and a speed of 160 knots true air speed (KTAS), per the flight test plan worked out before the flight.

Piper test pilots Dave Schwartz and Buddy Sessoms were at the controls.

Its first flight focused on taking an early look at basic handling characteristics, effects on pitch trim with power changes, and basic operation of the engine’s full authority digital engine control (FADEC) system.

“The PiperJet exhibited excellent control response around all three axes,” said Schwartz. “The ergonomics and the basic operation of the side stick control were excellent, with well-balanced and harmonized control inputs required for the air speeds that we tested. Moreover, the expected level of pitch trim change with power applications was minimal and easy to overcome.”

A single Williams FJ44-3AP turbofan engine powers the PiperJet. The FJ44-3AP can be rated up to 3,000 pounds of thrust, but in the PiperJet the engine is de-rated to approximately 2,400 pounds of thrust.

“The FADEC control on the Williams engine greatly reduces pilot workload, allowing greater focus on controlling and navigating the PiperJet,” said Schwartz. “Pushing the single power level full forward for takeoff results in a smooth but rapid buildup of thrust and acceleration.”

Piper said the first flight also confirmed that the aircraft offers very low interior noise levels — an intentional attribute resulting from designing the engine installation well aft in the vertical tail, behind the pressure bulkhead.

“The resulting lack of cabin noise was even better than expected,” said test pilot Sessoms. “Even without sound insulation or an interior, the cabin was exceptionally quiet. It will be even quieter in the completed airplane. In all, our customers should be very pleased with the quiet cabin and lack of engine vibration.”

The initial test program

Piper will now begin a 50-hour initial flight test program with the PiperJet to expand its flight envelope and further investigate the aircraft's aerodynamic configuration and basic flight performance.

The company's test pilots expect to retract the PiperJet’s landing gear on its next flight. After that they will make several more flights at increasing airspeeds, eventually reaching 360 KTAS. Envelope expansion will also include higher operating altitudes, up to a maximum of 35,000 feet.

Piper plans to unveil the PiperJet publicly to customers and the news and aviation media in late August or early September at its factory in Vero Beach, Fla., During the event Piper test pilots will demonstrate the PiperJet’s full flight capabilities, the company said.

The six-passenger PiperJet — which offers an option for either a seventh seat or an enclosable lavatory — will have a range of 1,300 nautical miles and a full-fuel payload of 800 pounds, according to Piper. It will be priced at $2.199 million in 2006 dollars, with the normal CPI-W price escalator.

Piper expects to begin delivering PiperJets to customers in 2011.

Design features

“The PiperJet is designed to be flown by a single pilot,” said John Becker, Piper’s vice president of engineering. ”Moreover, its innovative design includes ample baggage space and class-setting useful load. The PiperJet will be certified to a maximum operating altitude of 35,000 feet, well above the weather, while combining performance with the latest safety technologies and features.”

Piper has selected Garmin International, Inc. to provide the avionics suite for the PiperJet, with navigation, situational awareness and system information delivered through state-of-the art technologies. From Flight Into Known Icing (FIKI) capability to FADEC, the PiperJet’s focus will be on user-friendliness and safety, said the company.

The company will offer a sophisticated color palette for PiperJet interiors, which will feature leather seats, zebra wood details and rich fabrics and trim. PiperJet cabins will also provide storage spaces, cup holders and docking stations for personal electronics.

Piper said that among the aerodynamic and structural features it has designed into the PiperJet are a high-speed, natural laminar flow wing to enhance fuel economy and performance, and advanced metal bonding for improved strength and manufacturing integrity.

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