Since the single-pilot, four-passenger launch of Morane-Saulnier’s MS 760 Paris jet in the 1950s, the Very Light Jet (VLJ) category took another 50 years to mature. Two Cessna aircraft of the 1950s fell into the as-yet-unnamed VLJ category, with the 407, a four-seat version of the T-37 jet trainer, and the single-pilot Fanjet 500 both getting scrapped in the design phases. In the ‘70s and ‘80s, the Gulfstream FanJet 1500 and CMC Leopard also never made a significant mark in private aviation.
But by the early 2000s, the Embraer Phenom 100, the Cessna Citation Mustang, and the Eclipse 500 had ushered in a new era of VLJs—also called “Personal Jets” or “Micro Jets.” The Mustang, the smallest jet in the Citation line, became the poster child of the category from its launch in 2006 to final production in 2017, registering the largest sales. Eclipse also had an impressive start in 2006 until the Great Recession. But the Cirrus Vision SF50 and its successor, the G2+ Vision Jet, have become the darlings of the category since going into service in 2018, with sales recently surpassing the Citation Mustang.
Unlike the midsize class and even the ultra-long-range category, VLJs tend to be one-off designs, with unique cabin configurations and sporting one or two engines. But there are some common features. These aircraft typically weigh under 10,000 pounds and have one pilot (some cockpits can be configured for two). Most are equipped with cockpit automation, such as moving map GPS and multi-function displays, automated engine and systems management, and integrated autoflight, autopilot, and flight-guidance systems. Several have Garmin’s AutoLand, which takes over if the pilot is incapacitated. The Cirrus Jet even has a deployable CAPS parachute system.
Despite its somewhat erratic history, the category continues to deliver sophisticated options and improved ranges. Coupled with advances in avionics, cabin design and safety options, these fuel-efficient jets have become a sophisticated option for business travel, personal commuting and, increasingly, for short-hop, regional air charter.
Here are seven of our favorites.
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Cirrus G2+ Vision Jet
Image Credit: Cirrus Designed for style, comfort, and safety, the updated Cirrus G2+ Vision Jet delivers in big ways since the SF50’s initial launch in 2016. Not only does the carbon-fiber fuselage create an open, spacious cabin for up to six passengers, but the panoramic windows enhance the travel experience. Plenty of space and connectivity were designed into the pressurized cabin for work and entertainment. The Vision Jet’s advanced safety features include the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System. In the event of a pilot emergency and with the touch of a button, Vision Jet also morphs into an autonomous vehicle with its Safe Return Emergency Autoland function, developed with Garmin. When the safety feature is engaged, the flight deck’s visual screens automatically transform from a pilot view to screens useful to a passenger, including guidance on communicating with air traffic control. Its 1,275-nautical-mile range and 305 knots of true airspeed are impressive, as is the 1,350-pound payload and takeoff distance of 2,036 feet.
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Cessna Citation Mustang
Image Credit: Courtesy Textron Aviation Cessna’s first very light jet was introduced in 2006, and by the time it ended production in 2017, over 500 Mustangs were in the air. The single-pilot Mustang is equipped with a G1000 avionics suite and powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW615F turbofans. The pressurized cabin can accommodate four passengers in the rear and two pilots (or a passenger) in the cockpit, with space for up to 57 cubic feet for external baggage and an additional six cubic feet for internal baggage. Its range is 963 nautical miles, with 340 knots of true airspeed.
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HondaJet HA-420
Image Credit: HondaJet The original HondaJet was first announced in 2005 and gained its FAA type certification 10 years later. No stranger to innovation, the twin-engine aircraft demonstrates the benefits of over-the-wing engine mounts to maximize fuel efficiency, reduce noise, and ultimately expand cabin space. Aerodynamic advancements and natural laminar flow technology also reduce drag. Using technology Honda developed with avionics partner Garmin, touchscreen controls became a vital feature of the single-pilot aircraft. The HondaJet, which can hold up to seven occupants, has a range of 1,223 nautical miles with 422 knots of true airspeed. Its takeoff distance is 3,934 feet.
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HondaJet Elite II
Image Credit: HondaJet Announced in October 2022, the HondaJet Elite II expanded the range, fuel capacity, gross weight, and safety features of the three iterations (the original HondaJet, HondaJet Elite, and HondaJet Elite S) that came before, as well as now being the company’s only purchase option. Though it has the same airspeed, the Elite II’s range has expanded to to 1,547 nautical miles. Its takeoff distance has also dropped to 3,699 feet. Garmin’s Autoland is now an option. Design improvements include in-cabin, speaker-less audio, and acoustic enhancements to reduce external noise. Leather seats articulate and swivel for added passenger comfort. The lavatory even has skylights.
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Embraer Phenom 100EX
Image Credit: Embraer Launched in October, Embraer’s six-passenger Phenom 100EX is the latest iteration of the Phenom 100 series, which have more than 400 aircraft operating worldwide. The 100EX is a sporty VLJ that lives up to its name by combining operational versatility with enhanced avionics and safety features. Avionic upgrades include Garmin Prodigy Touch flight deck, which has FlightStream 510, synthetic vision system, emergency descent mode, stabilized approach, predictive windshear, automatic 3-D volumetric scanning for lightning and hail prediction, and other options. The Phenom 100EX also includes a Runway Overrun Awareness and Alerting System. Its two Pratt & Whitney PW617F1-E engines pack a punch of 1,730-pound-force thrust with a maximum cruising speed of 406 knots. The 100 also boasts the most complete airstair in the VLJ category, with the largest entrance door. Its range is 1,178 nautical miles. The baggage storage is also generous, with the external hold measuring 60 cubic feet, and internally, 10 cubic feet.
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Eclipse 550
Image Credit: Eclipse Aviation The Eclipse 550 sports a six-seat, spacious interior designed for business and pleasure. Yet this twin-engine, single-pilot jet is a miser when it comes to fuel consumption. Flying 41,000 feet at a max cruise of 431 mph, the Eclipse 550 consumes 59 gallons per hour. Eclipse Aerospace says, with its Pratt & Whitney PW610F turbofan engines, the 550 is the most efficient jet on the planet. Having gone through several ownership changes, it’s not clear if the company is currently producing the 550s. It delivered two 550s in the first quarter of 2023 after a five-year hiatus. But it has since stayed mum about whether it will be ramping up production again. Eclipse did not immediately respond to Robb Report’s request for comment.
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Citation M2 Gen2
Image Credit: Textron Aviation Cessna’s Citation M2 Gen2 is generally seen as the successor to its popular Mustang, though it seems to hover somewhere between the VLJ and larger light-jet category. The updated M2 features two William FJ44 engines that cruise at 404 knots with a potential range of 1,550 nautical miles—the distance from Los Angeles to Chicago. The flight deck features Garmin’s touchscreen G3000 avionics for single-pilot operation (a two-pilot configuration is also optional). Other flight-deck features include autothrottle as well as a newly equipped GDL 60 Datalink that enables wireless flight-plan loading and automatic database updating. The eight-person jet also features upgrades for onboard entertainment or working. Its takeoff distance is 3,210 feet.
