Aerostar FJ-100
Aerostar Aircraft · USA · first flew 2010 · light aircraft
The Aerostar FJ-100 was a light business jet developed from the sleek Piper Aerostar piston twin, mating a stretched, strengthened airframe to two small turbofans.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Aft fuselage-mounted turbofans |
| T — Tail | Cruciform |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Aft fuselage-mounted turbofans
- Cruciform tail
- Derived from Piper Aerostar piston twin
Identify it by the classic mid-set Aerostar wing married to twin turbofans hung on the rear fuselage and a distinctive cruciform tail. The tightly-cowled engines and small overall size set it apart from purpose-built business jets.
Specifications
- The Aerostar FJ-100 has a length of 11.76 m (39 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.15 m (37 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 769 km/h (478 mph).
- Typical crew: 1-2 pilots, up to 6 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Aerostar Aircraft of Idaho rebuilt the Ted Smith Aerostar into a jet, adding a fuselage stretch, reinforced wing and a pair of Williams FJ33-class turbofans on the rear fuselage. Repeatedly delayed by funding shortfalls, the prototype finally flew in 2010, more than a decade after the concept was first announced.
Variants
The FJ-100 remained a single prototype and never spawned production or sub-variants. It shared its lineage with the piston Aerostar 600/700 series from which it was converted.
Where you'll see it
No FJ-100 entered service in the UK or on the wider civil market, as certification funding never materialised. The aircraft is best regarded as an ambitious but unrealised light-jet conversion.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.