Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

Contributor

Mark Huber

Two decades after it was shelved, the Jetcruzer is back—sort of. Aircraft components manufacturer Victor Tao—owner of Farrar Aerospace in Riverside, California—bought the physical and intellectual remains of the program in 2016 and has been quietly working with a small team to bring it back to life.
A pair scale models are on display this week at NBAA-BACE 2023 at Jetcruzer International’s booth. But the company is a long way from entering production and has yet to make the first flight of its lone test article. Although that first flight could come before year-end, operations manager Jonathan Garza told AIN. &nbsp;
The pusher turboprop single-engine aircraft was originally designed in the early 1980s with the six-seat, single-pilot 450—an unpressurized version—flew for about a decade. The design features an all-composite fuselage, aluminum wings, and forward canard.
It ended up in pieces packed in boxes in Texas after going through several ownership changes since AASI killed the program in 2004 after it had racked up tens of millions of dollars in losses. Tao received the remains in 2017.
Garza said Jetcruzer is working to “put that model back together." Initially, Jetcruzer will fly it with Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada PT6 power and then produce a hydrogen-powered/electric version of the Model 500, a stretched and pressurized version of the 450. Jetcruzer believes that aircraft could be certified by mid-2025.
While Jetcruzer is displaying a model of the twin-engine, 12-passenger Model 1250 at the show that could run on electric power, Garza said there are no immediate plans to produce it. Jetcruzer also has developed an eVTOL concept for the Model 450, but that likewise, is not a production project in the immediate future, Garza said.
Garza said resurrecting the 450 has been difficult as a lot of components on the approved parts list “don’t exist anymore.” Tao has individually funded the project to date but is seeking additional investors.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Revived Jetcruzer Prepares for First Flight

Victor Tao wants to bring the Jetcruzer back as a hydrogen-powered aircraft

Aerospace executive Victor Tao wants to resurrect the single-engine pusher as a hydrogen-powered aircraft.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Amy Wilder

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Inventory fell by nearly a third year over year as resale transactions hit Q2 record

Asking Prices Disappear from ULR Bizjets, Says Jet Match

Kerry Lynch

Trump calls for a ban on Bombardier products

Amid Trade War, Trump Takes Aim at Bombardier Once More

Charlotte Bailey

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

ATR 72 aircraft performs pre-modification flight in Toulouse

Kepplair Starts Converting ATR 72 Into Water Bombers

Curt Epstein

Only the piston aircraft segment posted a decline

GAMA: Bizjets, T-props, and Rotorcraft Deliveries Up

Hanneke Weitering

Two captains held the prototype 33 feet above the water for 30 seconds

Regent Flies Electric Seaglider with Crew for First Time

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Icing approval would open year-round service to northern communities

Horizon Begins Icing Tests for Cavorite X7 eVTOL

Deal to close this year

Bombardier To Grow Manufacturing Capacity with MHICA Buy

David Donald

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

More In Aircraft