A Civil Fighter?

Speed and maneuverability are key words pilots look for in planes that they one day hope to own. Of course the military always owns the most advanced aircraft that can reach speeds breaking the sound barrier, but one company is beginning to challenge the theory that general aviation pilots can’t fly fighter jets. The Aviation Technology Group (ATG) is developing a new high speed private jet awaiting FAA certification that resembles a military fighter. The Javelin MK-20 not only looks like a military trainer, but it also performs similar to one, reaching speeds as high as 500 knots.

ATG spares no expense in the design of this brilliant aircraft and prices them at around 3 million dollars per airplane. ATG flew their first Javelin prototype out of their headquarters in Colorado in September 2005 and have since been funding for airworthy certification. As of now there have been 153 orders for ATG’s high speed jet and they expect many more orders once it is approved for the market in the skies. The Javelin seats two people in a fighter type fashion, with the pilot in the front seat, and its design allows it to reach altitudes of 45,000 ft.

The one question that is on pilot’s minds is whether the Javelin can perform similar maneuvers to fighters such as the F-16 and F-18 Superhornet. ATG is manufacturing versions approved for the military to use as trainers, but the executive Javelin is not meant for aerobatic and military maneuvers, but rather as a light business jet with good fuel economy and unbeatable performance. The aircraft can fly up to 3.5 hours without refueling and with its advanced digital avionics it could be the future of light business travel for VIP’s.