The National Business Aviation Association and Convention (NBAA) got underway officially on Tuesday morning, but by then Plane & Pilot had been on the ground for a few days, already attending briefings, interviewing major players and occasionally just sitting back and taking in the spectacle, as was the case for Gulfsteam’s spectacular unveiling of its G700 ultra-long range gem on Monday night.
There have been product announcements, program delays, star sightings, and big numbers. Here are eight of my biggest observations from the ground, so to speak, at NBAA.
That NBAA kind of snubs light jets isnât new. Ten years ago, the organization had an actual debate about what to do about very light jets, or whatever you want to call them, like the Eclipse EA500, the Cessna Mustang and the yet-to-be-flown Cirrus SF50. Regardless of whether itâs planned or not, these remarkably capable and safe aircraft just donât get any love at NBAA, and neither do outstanding turboprops from Pilatus and Daher, with emerging models from Cessna and Epic still to come. Maybe itâs time to step back just a little from the fantasy that is Urban Air Vehicles (UAVs) and focus more on AAM (actual air mobility platforms) that cost less and do great things.
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