The Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corporation (SSAC) said last month its SJ30 light jet had unofficially set records for range and speed for a light jet. The company flew an SJ30 from San Antonio, Texas, to Goose Bay, Canada, refueled, and then flew on to the Farnborough air show in Farnborough, England. Records claimed by the company include fastest time in its class from San Antonio to Goose Bay and from San Antonio to Farnborough. The flights were observed by the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) and won’t be official until the NAA verifies them.
Total flight time for the 2,230-nm trip from San Antonio to Goose Bay was 5 hours. Landing at Goose Bay, the SJ30 still contained a 1.5-hour fuel reserve. Total flight time for the 2,370-nm final leg of the trip from Goose Bay to Farnborough was 5 hours and 24 minutes, landing with a 1-hour fuel reserve. The SJ30 received FAA certification last year but the company’s financial resources reportedly have not allowed it to move into full-scale production. Obviously, setting a few records might help Sino Swearingen attract enough investors and orders to put its little hustler into production.
Sino Swearingen SJ30 Sets Records
Key Takeaways:
- The Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corporation (SSAC) claimed its SJ30 light jet unofficially set new speed and range records during a transatlantic flight from San Antonio, Texas, to Farnborough, England.
- The record flights demonstrated the SJ30's impressive endurance, completing legs of over 2,000 nautical miles with significant fuel reserves remaining.
- These record-setting efforts are a strategic move by SSAC to attract investors and orders, as the company faces financial challenges that have prevented full-scale production despite the SJ30's prior FAA certification.
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