"VLJs" revolutionize travel industry: the recent introduction of very light jets (VLJs) is making private travel possible for more people than ever before.

In July, Eclipse Aviation of Albuquerque, New Mexico, became the first company to receive FAA certification of a VLI (very light jet)-the Eclipse 500. A number of other companies have joined the race to deliver VLJs since Eclipse first conceived of the idea about nine years ago. Among these other companies (and aircraft) are Embraer (Phenom 100), Adam Aircraft (A-700), and Diamond Aircraft (D-Jet). (Cessna Aircraft certified its Mustang in August, but officials from the company insist that, although it meets the criteria, it is not a VLJ, but a "small business jet.")

With collective orders for VLJs topping 3,000 (more than 2,500 of those for the Eclipse 500 alone), what will the entry of these little jets bring to the aviation and travel industries? In a word: convenience.

Since VLJs are designed for short runways (e.g., the Eclipse 500 can take off and land on runways less than 2,300 feet long), they can take advantage of 10,000 under-utilized regional airports. Instead of relying on the spoke-and-hub commercial travel system, in which a relative handful of airports handle about 80 percent of commercial flights, travelers can go point to point via VLJs-departing closer to their homes or business and landing closer to their final destinations--on their schedules, rather than the airlines'.

The benefits of point-to-point travel are so powerful that an entirely new industry is being created due to VLJs: the "air taxi" industry. Instead of offering traditional charter flights, air taxi companies such as Day Jet, LinearAir, and OurPlane will provide per-seat, on-demand service at prices comparable to full coach fares on commercial airliners.

As the low-price leader of the VLJs, the Eclipse 500's $1.52 million price puts it at about half the cost of the next available jet, and it offers the lowest operating costs of any jet today. At the high end of the VLJ price spectrum is Embraer's Phenom 100, which is projected to cost more than $3.25 million when it reaches the market it 2009.

Eclipse Aviation achieved its ground-breaking acquisition and operating prices by departing from general aviation tradition to bring together high technology, lean manufacturing techniques, ease of use, greater safety, and a complete aircraft maintenance system to create a truly unique jet that generated huge demand. This major shift in the value curve allows more companies and people than ever before to own their own jets, whether for business or personal travel.

For business travelers, in addition to the coming availability of air taxi services, companies that had never dreamed of corporate jet ownership can now afford to take advantage of the benefits of private travel. And larger companies that already have corporate flight departments can add one or more VLJs to their existing fleets, giving them the ability to extend the benefits of private travel to more people in their organizations than ever before.

Those traveling for pleasure can take advantage of the advent of VLJs, too. Vacationers can avoid the hassles of commercial travel, and enjoy more time at their destinations instead of standing in lines at the hub airports. Private jet ownership is now within the reach of more people than ever before; those considering fractional ownership programs can afford an entire jet--or at least a larger share of one--for less than they might pay for a smaller fraction. For private pilots and aircraft owners, the lower-priced VLJs such as the Eclipse 500 offer the advantages of jet ownership at a lower cost than some turboprops. (See comparison charts on pages 6 and 7.) And those without pilot licenses can enjoy owning a jet with the comfort and confidence of a complete aircraft management system, such as those offered by some manufacturers in partnership with companies that provide storage, schedule pilots, and handle maintenance

for a monthly fee. Whether you travel for business or pleasure, you can enjoy the benefits of convenience, efficiency, safety, and cost savings offered by these new VLJs, coming soon to an airport very near you.

Chris DeJonghe is with Eclipse Aviation. You can see the Eclipse 500 when it visits California in mid-November. For more information. visit www.eclipseaviation.com

TURBOPROPS

                                       Beechcraft King
Piper Meridian    FADS Socata TBM      Air C90GT
(single engine)   850 (sin le engine   (twin engine)

$1,938,000        $2,820,000           $2,973,000
$407.22           $504.65              $684.73
9/27/83           8/28/90              2/4/59
260 kts           320 kts              270 kts
299 mph           368 mph              311 mph
1220 mi           1686 mi              1072 mi
2,438 ft          2,840 ft             2,392 ft
2,110 ft          2,430 ft             2,355 ft
30,000 ft         31,000 ft            30,000 ft
1,720 lb          2,632 lb             3,010 lb

                             Diamond D-Jet   Eclipse 500   Adam A700

Acquisition Cost in Aug-06    $1,383,000     $1,528,000    $2,266,000
  Dollars
Total Operating Cost/Hour         N/A          $372.60      $830.00
Certification                   Pending        Jul-06       Pending
Max Cruise Speed (kt)           315 kts        370 kts      340 kts
Max Cruise Speed (mph)          363 mph        426 mph      391 mph
IFR Range (statute miles)       1555 mi        1496 mi      1381 mi
Sea-level Takeoff Distance     2,372 ft       2,248 ft      3,400 ft
Sea-level Landing Distance   Not announced    2,112 ft      2,520 ft
Ceiling                        25,000 ft      41,000 ft    41,000 ft
Useful load                    2,160 lb       2,414 lb      2,950 lb

                                                    Embraer Phenom,
                                Cessna Mustang            100

Acquisition Cost in Aug-06        $2,623,000          $3,053,000
  Dollars
Total Operating Cost/Hour          $559.52                N/A
Certification                       Sep-06              Pending
Max Cruise Speed (kt)              340 kts              380 kts
Max Cruise Speed (mph)             391 mph              437 mph
IFR Range (statute miles)          1496 mi              1519 mi
Sea-level Takeoff Distance         3,120 ft            3,400 ft
Sea-level Landing Distance         2,560 ft            3,000 ft
Ceiling                           41,000 ft            41,000 ft
Useful load                  3,335 lb (estimated)      3,252 lb

HIGH PERFOMANCE PISTONS

Piper Malibu Mirage   Adam A500       Beechcraft Baron
(single engine)       (twin engine)   G58 (twin engine)

$1,108,000            $1,208,000      $1,230,000
$291.36               $514.61         $335.80
9/27/83               5/11/05         6/18/57
220 kts               230 kts         202 kts
253 mph               265 mph         233 mph
843 mi                1324 mi         1322 mi
2,090 ft              2,471 ft        2,300 ft
1,968 ft              2,471 ft        1,300 ft
25,000 ft             25,000 ft       20,688 ft
1,245 lb              1,890 lb        1,578 lb