Kerry Lynch stepped into the role of editor of the&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;monthly magazine in May 2022 after serving with&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;for eight years. She joined&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;in December 2014 as a senior editor covering Washington and business aviation news. She has also served on Convention News teams, including as editor of&nbsp;HAI Convention News. Lynch previously spent 25 years with Aviation Week. During her time there, she reported for and later steered&nbsp;The Weekly of Business Aviation, oversaw business aviation content on the&nbsp;Aviation Week Intelligence Network, served on the&nbsp;Show News&nbsp;staff, and held roles as the Washington columnist for&nbsp;Business &amp; Commercial Aviation&nbsp;and&nbsp;Overhaul &amp; Maintenance&nbsp;monthly magazines. In 2021 she was honored with the National Business Aviation Association Platinum Wing Award for lifetime achievement in journalism and was the 2004 recipient of the National Air Transportation Association’s Aviation Journalism Excellence Award. She also has been a recipient of an Aerospace Media Award for business aviation (2022) and NBAA Gold Wing Award (2003, 2024). Lynch graduated from The Ohio State University with a bachelor of arts in journalism.

Editor, AIN monthly magazine

Kerry Lynch

The super-midsize (SMS) and large ultra-long-range business jet market niches have structural differences in client profiles, needs, and preferences, with the former tending to be more price sensitive and the latter more focused on performance and comfort, according to industry consultancy Rolland Vincent Associates (RVA).
RVA yesterday released a report, <a href="https://rollandvincent.com/research-reports">“Tailored to Fit: Decoding the Structural Break Between Super Mid-Size and Large Business Jets,”</a>&nbsp;delving into the differences in the aircraft segments and the factors OEMs must consider as they draw up their next business jets. These differences not only impact aircraft design, but also product strategy and investment decisions, RVA found.
RVA analysis points to the next clean-sheet business jet platform to most likely emerge in either the upper end of the SMS or within the large-jet class. However, RVA president Rollie Vincent adds, “Our analysis shows that SMS and large jets are not points on a smooth continuum—they are separate markets with their own rules of engagement. Misreading this structural divide can lead to costly missteps in product planning.”
The RVA report is designed to offer guidance for OEMs and investors on where and how to compete in the next generation of business jets, Vincent added.
SMS and large jets are frequently grouped together strategically, but they are distinct markets with different customers, missions, and value propositions, he said.
SMS buyers are more cost-conscious and value-focused, while large-jet buyers focus on capability, brand prestige, and global reach. Research shows that 4,200 nm appears to be a “breakpoint” in aircraft category differentiation. “This range marks a step change in cabin size, price, and mission profile, reflecting fundamentally different design and customer expectations,” according to RVA.
For SMS aircraft, those that typically travel between 3,000 nm to 4,200 nm, buyers tend to be more price-conscious, looking for value through efficient range, competitive operating costs, and operational flexibility, according to RVA. This is particularly true with fractional operations. RVA notes that proven designs can support dispatch reliability and broad fleet utility in this category.
As for the large aircraft, from 4,200 nm to 7,000 nm, buyers tend to be ultra-high-net-worth individuals, corporations, and government entities that prioritize capability, brand, and long-range utility. As flights get longer—eight hours or more—expectations increase for larger, more comfortable cabins that enable passengers to work, rest, and move around with ease. “In this segment, price often plays a secondary role to mission performance, comfort, and perceived value,” according to the report.
The report further questions the potential role of speed as a differentiator. It has not been in recent years, given the relatively similar performance of aircraft in this space, but research suggests that it could take on new importance should a meaningful step change enter the market, RVA added. “Such an advance could reshape buyer perceptions and stimulate incremental demand in the segment.”
RVA plans to follow with research on higher cruise speeds, including the potential for supersonic business aircraft.
“Understanding where demand truly lies is essential for smart capital allocation,” said Dean Roberts, RVA v-p of strategy, sustainability, and development. “This report confirms that buyers in these segments think, behave, and invest differently. Strategies that work in one segment will not necessarily translate to the other—and the market rewards those who design with these differences in mind.”

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.

RVA Report: Big Differences in Super-midsize, Large Business Jet Markets

New report believes clean-sheet bizjets may fall into super-midsize or large categories

As OEMs evaluate their next options for business jets, a new RVA report delineates the significant differences between super-midsize and large-jet markets.

Report Finds Big Differences in SMS, Large Bizjet Markets

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Jessica Reed

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Jack Pelton is chairman and CEO of EAA, and Bunce was GAMA’s former president and CEO

Bunce, Pelton Named to Int’l Air & Space Hall of Fame

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.

Owners spend relatively more on yachts as they age

Jetcraft Traces Spending of Yacht and Bizjet Owners

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

Updates includes SVGS for Garmin 5000 suite and GDL Datalink

Citation Latitude Receives FAA Nod for Avionics Updates

Charles Alcock

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Bavarian companies agree to collaborate with research and technology projects

Deutsche Aircraft Backs Vaeridion's Electric Regional Airliner Work

Curt Epstein

New developments at FBOs including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

The addition brings another aviation service under the company banner

Million Air Launches Aircraft Brokerage

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

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.

New facility has replaced the French group’s outdated Argenteuil site

Dassault Inaugurates Falcon and Rafale Factory at Cergy

Jennifer Meszaros

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.

Government's Belt and Road Initiative could ease access

China's eVTOL Aircraft Start-Ups Gain Market Momentum 

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