2024 in Review: Business and General Aviation

Piper Aircraft received FAA type certification of its M700 Fury six-seat single-engine turboprop in March, with deliveries beginning the following month. With a maximum cruise speed of 300 kt., the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-52-powered M700 is the fastest single-engine aircraft yet produced by Piper.

Gulfstream received delayed FAA type certification for its G700 ultra-long-range business jet in March, four years after its first flight. Developed from the G650 and powered by Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 turbofans, the G700 can fly 7,750 nm at Mach 0.85 and has a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.935.

Gulfstream conducted the first flight of its G400 large-cabin business jet from Savannah, Georgia, on Aug. 15. Joining the clean-sheet G500/G600 family, the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW812GA-powered G400 has a design range of 4,200 nm and maximum speed of Mach 0.90.

Germany’s APUS Zero Emission in September rolled out the i-2, a hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered, four-seat general aviation aircraft. Founded in 2014 as an aviation design office, Strausberg-based APUS is aiming to fly the i-2 by early 2025 and certify the clean-sheet, twin-engine aircraft in 2027.

Textron Aviation flew the Citation CJ4 Gen3 in October, the first in a new generation of light jets featuring Garmin’s Emergency Autoland system, autothrottle and latest G3000 Prime integrated flight deck. The CJ4 Gen3 is planned to enter service in 2026, followed by the Citation M2 Gen3 and CJ3 Gen3 in 2027.

De Havilland Canada received multiple orders for Canadair 515 amphibious waterbombers in 2024, including a contract signed in October with the European Commission for 22 to be operated by France, Italy and Spain under the rescEU program to establish a reserve capability to fight wildfires in Europe.

On-demand private aviation provider Wheels Up in October announced plans to transition its jet fleet to Embraer Phenom 300s and Bombardier Challenger 300/350s. The company also secured a $332 million credit facility from Bank of America, supported by majority owner Delta Air Lines.

Switzerland’s Smartflyer rolled out its SFX1 prototype electric aircraft at Grenchen Airport on Nov. 6, aiming for first flight in 2025. The aircraft is optimized around pure electric propulsion but is designed to accommodate a hybrid-electric range extender or a hydrogen fuel cell power system.

EEA is leading work in the LUS-222 light utility turboprop, the first aircraft to be developed and industrialized in Portugal. In November, EAA selected Brazil’s Akaer to manufacture the airframe. Planned to fly in 2027, the LUS-222 will carry 19 passengers or 2.5 metric tons of cargo 1,100 nm.

France’s Aura Aero conducted the first flight of the Integral E electric-powered version of its two-seat aerobatic trainer from Toulouse-Francazal Airport on Dec. 3. The startup is developing three versions: the piston-powered tailwheel Integral R and tricycle-gear Integral S, as well as the electric Integral E.