Private aviation enthusiasts will appreciate Popular Mechanics’ recent focus on very light jets. The newer technology and smaller operating budget is good news for affluent consumers, but these planes have yet to significantly challenge traditional private flyers; the majority of very light jets must still squeeze through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) gauntlet of tests.

Nonetheless, Popular Mechanics issued their “Top 6 Very Light Jets,” which they judged most likely to complete the FAA certification:

1. Cessna Mustang
2. Adam A700
3. Diamond D-Jet
4. Eclipse 500
5. Embraer Phenom 100
6. HondaJet

Last year Helium Report issued a primer on an emerging batch of very light jets. It seems that we share Popular Mechanics’ enthusiasm for the Eclipse 500 and the HondaJet, although the first round of Eclipses came with some well-founded gripes. And with very light jet price ranges at about the same as sixteen fractional jet cards (400 hrs), more affluent consumers could manage jet ownership more easily. This marks a wider client base for manufacturers and could be promising news for the industry.

Very light jet manufacturers could even cater to a more eco-friendly market. Popular Mechanics notes that an “extremely light jet, powered by a theoretical 500-pound-thrust high-bypass turbofan engine, could carry two passengers at 250 mph and get 30 mpg.” Those are numbers that our friends at Treehugger.com will be happy to hear.

Image from popularmechanics.com