Excel-Jet, Ltd. (www.sport-jet.com) Bob Bornhofen is the president and founder of Colorado-based Excel-Jet, Ltd., and he is a firm believer that the Sport-Jet will satisfy the transportation needs of pilots who are looking for a "personal jet," which will safely and efficiently get them from point A to point B.

"The Sport-Jet is a four-place, single-engine turbofan aircraft, which will cruise at 350 knots at FL250," Bornhofen said. "This aircraft is designed primarily for the owner/operator."

Bornhofen, who is an aerospace engineer, said the company is currently finishing production on its first flying article, which will fly before year-end. Until such time, the company's position is “…when the customer can see the aircraft is when they will start taking deposits” However, the initial price for the first production sets is $950,000—considerably less than what other manufacturers are selling very light jets for.

This is not Bornhofen's first aircraft design. He was the mastermind behind the Maverick Jet, an all-composite, five-place, twin turbojet, which was a kit-built, modified design. A pair of General Electric T58, re-engineered engines powered the aircraft for maximum FL310. Under Bornhofen's management, the initial prototype was routinely flying at 365 knots. Two additional kits followed and upon completion, both flew in excess of 340 knots. His design of the Maverick was so successful, that in 2001, he sold his aircraft company and the rights to the Maverick aircraft to another company.

After a considerable amount of research, Bornhofen concluded that what pilots were really looking for, and what other manufacturers have missed, is that they wanted a reliable aircraft that they could afford—an aircraft that not only could be used as a business or pleasure vehicle— but would be an insurable aircraft for the typical GA pilot.

"The Sport-Jet meets that criterion and more," he said. "Additionally, it will have modern, state-of-the-art avionics and an all-glass cockpit—just what you would expect a personal jet to have."

Aside from Bornhofen's approach in designing an affordable and reliable personal jet, his business acumen for understanding the point of view that insurers have, and their concerns about underwriting aircraft, he said was paramount in the Sport-Jet's design.

"From the beginning, the Sport-Jet's design was done in partnership with representatives of the insurance industry," he said. "You have to consider the underwriters' involvement because their liability really starts when the plane is sold. All aircraft are designed to be safe—the FAR's require that—but you can make the aircraft more insurance friendly, especially with respect to incidents and accidents. We are confident that the insurance requirements for pilots flying the Sport-Jet, will be substantially less than twin-engine aircraft flying at FL410."

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