OSHKOSH, Wisc. -- Stratos Aircraft has introduced a new aircraft, the Stratos 716. The new model is an evolution of Stratos' 714 Proof of Concept (PoC) aircraft.

"When we introduced the Proof of Concept aircraft last year, the marketplace feedback was tremendous," said Stratos CTO Carsten Sundin. "It was clear that the market is looking for the performance and comfort we were offering, but in a true six-place aircraft. We have achieved this with the 716."

The Stratos 716 has a 31-inch longer and 3.5-inch wider cabin than the 714 PoC aircraft that was introduced in 2017. The 716 is being marketed as a multirole Very Light Jet (VLJ) designed to comfortably seat six people for personal, business, and air taxi use.

The Stratos 714 test aircraft has completed 130 test flights and logged 185 hours. Sundin said, "The 714 PoC aircraft has served a vital role in advancing the design towards the 716. We will first offer the 716X, as an experimental kit aircraft. We see producing a limited number of kit aircraft as a logical step towards certification. It also allows customers who don't want to wait for certification an opportunity to own and operate a Stratos 716X much sooner."

The carbon-fiber 716X features trailing link gear, a Pratt & Whitney JT15D-5 engine, dual G3X screens, a GTN 750 MFD, an integrated Garmin autopilot, dual standby attitude indicators, custom switch panels, a fully automated pressurization system, and air conditioning.

The Stratos 716X kit will come with a builder's assist program. "We are excited to be able to introduce the 716X builder's assist program," said Sundin. "This program will allow us to deliver the 716X to a very select group of customers very soon while we continue with the program for the 716 certified aircraft."

The first position for the Stratos 716X has been sold, and the kit is currently being built at Stratos' facility in Redmond, Oregon. Stratos plans to announce the cost of the 716X kit and other program details, and take orders for the kit, in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Stratos has facilities totaling more than 41,000 square feet in Redmond, Oregon, to support the production of the 716. "Our newest facility is a state-of-the-art composite manufacturing facility and includes advanced technology, including a CNC ply cutter and laser projectors to aid in the placement of each ply during the construction of the carbon-fiber composite parts," said Sundin.

Source: Stratos Aircraft