Very Light Jet (VLJ) / Light Jet - Specialty Production
SyberJet SJ30-2: Complete Specs, Performance, and Buyer's Guide (2026)
SyberJet Aircraft (formerly Sino Swearingen, Emivest)
SyberJet SJ30-2: Complete Specs, Performance, and Buyer's Guide (2026)
The SyberJet SJ30-2 is the most extreme-performance VLJ ever certified, with a maximum cruise of Mach 0.83 (486 ktas), a range of 2,500 nautical miles, a service ceiling of 49,000 ft, and a unique 12 psi pressurization system that maintains sea-level cabin altitude to 41,000 ft. Originally designed by aircraft designer Ed Swearingen in 1986 as the SA-30 Fanjet, the SJ30-2 received FAA type certification in October 2005. After a tumultuous corporate history spanning Sino Swearingen, Emivest, and now SyberJet Aircraft, only a single SJ30 was flying as of 2023.
For buyers seeking the fastest and longest-range light jet ever built, the SJ30-2 (and its updated SJ30i variant) offers unmatched performance at a $4 to $8.5 million pre-owned/new price point.
SyberJet SJ30-2 Specifications at a Glance
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Category | Very Light Jet (VLJ) / Light Jet Performance Class |
| Production Status | Specialty / very limited production |
| Original Design Announced | October 1986 (Ed Swearingen SA-30 Fanjet) |
| First Flight | February 13, 1991 |
| FAA Type Certification | October 2005 |
| Crew | 1 pilot (single-pilot certified under Part 23 commuter category exemption) |
| Passengers | Up to 6 |
| Max Range (NBAA 4 pax IFR, 200 nm alt) | 2,205 to 2,500 nm |
| Max Cruise Speed | Mach 0.83 (486 ktas / 475 ktas typical) |
| Long-Range Cruise | 436 ktas |
| Max Operating Altitude | 49,000 ft (highest in light jet class) |
| Cabin Differential Pressure | 12 psi (highest in business jet class) |
| Cabin Altitude at 41,000 ft | Sea level |
| Cabin Altitude at 49,000 ft (ceiling) | Less than 1,800 ft |
| Engines | 2× Williams International FJ44-2A |
| Thrust per Engine | 2,300 lbf each |
| Avionics (SJ30i) | Honeywell Primus Epic 2.0 / SyberVision |
| Takeoff Distance (sea level, ISA) | 3,939 ft |
| Landing Distance (sea level, ISA) | 2,657 ft |
| Fuel Consumption | 156 gph |
| Original SJ30-2 Price | ~$5,950,000 |
| Current SJ30i Price | $8,300,000 to $8,500,000 |
| Pre-Owned SJ30-2 | $4,000,000 to $5,500,000 |
History and the Long Road to Certification
The SJ30-2 has one of the longest development histories in business aviation:
- October 1986: Ed Swearingen announces SA-30 Fanjet design
- October 1988: Agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace (Gulfstream Gulfjet)
- September 1989: Gulfstream withdraws
- 1990: Backing from Jaffe Group
- February 13, 1991: First flight of SJ-30
- 1995: Joint venture with Sino Aerospace Investment (Taiwan) forms Sino Swearingen
- 1995 NBAA: Decision to develop stretched SJ-30-2 variant with FJ44-2 engines
- November 1996: SJ-30-2 prototype first flight
- August 23, 2004: 12 psi cabin differential first demonstrated in flight
- October 2005: FAA type certification
- October 2008: Emirates Investment & Development Company becomes majority stockholder, renames to Emivest Aerospace
- October 2010: Emivest files bankruptcy
- April 7, 2011: Metalcraft Technologies acquires assets, renames to SyberJet Aircraft
- October 9, 2019: SJ30i (updated variant) first flight
- 2023: Only one SJ30 reported actively flying
The SJ30-2 received a unique FAA exemption to allow single-pilot certification under Part 23 commuter category rules despite exceeding 12,500 lbs MTOW.
The 12 PSI Pressurization System (Class-Unique)
The SJ30-2's signature feature is its 12 psi cabin pressurization differential, the highest in any business jet:
- Sea-level cabin altitude at 41,000 ft: No other business jet matches this
- Less than 1,800 ft cabin altitude at 49,000 ft: Service ceiling cabin altitude
- Reduced passenger fatigue: Particularly meaningful on transcontinental missions
- First aircraft designed around 12 psi cabin: Industry pioneering
For comparison, most light jets maintain 8,000 ft cabin altitude at maximum cruise altitude. The SJ30-2 delivers sea-level comfort at altitudes where other aircraft passengers experience the equivalent of a Denver-elevation environment.
Cabin Interior
The SJ30-2's cabin is more spacious than competing VLJs, with luxury finishes designed by Jason Castriota in updated variants.
| Cabin Measurement | Value |
|---|---|
| Passenger Capacity | 6 |
| Cabin Design (SJ30i) | Jason Castriota interior |
| Cabin Pressure | 12 psi differential |
The aircraft's interior is purposefully designed to evoke a high-performance sports car aesthetic.
Performance: World Records
The SJ30 holds the following world records through FAI/NAA:
- Recognized Speed Over a Closed Course: San Antonio, TX to Goose Bay, Canada
- Recognized Speed Over a Closed Course: San Antonio, TX to London, England
Engines
Two Williams International FJ44-2A turbofans power the SJ30-2, each producing 2,300 lbf of thrust (4,600 lbf total). The SJ30i variant uses upgraded FJ44-3AP-25 engines.
Avionics
The current SJ30i variant uses the SyberVision avionics suite based on Honeywell Primus Epic 2.0, with dual flight management systems for single or dual pilot operation.
Operating Costs
| Cost Item | Per Hour |
|---|---|
| Fuel (156 gph) | $1,090 to $1,400 |
| Engine Reserve | $350 |
| Airframe Maintenance | $250 |
| Misc Variable | $175 |
| Total Variable Cost | ~$1,865 to $2,175/hr |
Annual operating budget at 450 hours: approximately $1.4 to $1.7 million.
Charter Rates
SJ30 charter rates run approximately $1,715 to $3,500 per flight hour, varying by operator availability.
Pricing
| Variant | Price |
|---|---|
| SJ30i (new, SyberJet current production) | $8,300,000 to $8,500,000 |
| Pre-owned SJ30-2 (2005 to 2010 production) | $4,000,000 to $5,500,000 |
The original SJ30-2 entered production at approximately $5.95 million.
Mission Profile
Best fit profiles:
- Performance-focused owner-operators: Want the fastest, highest-flying light jet ever built
- Transcontinental owner-flown missions: 2,500 nm range covers Los Angeles to New York nonstop
- Operators valuing sea-level cabin comfort: Unique 12 psi pressurization
- Specialty-jet collectors and enthusiasts: Rare airframe with unique heritage
Less suited if:
- You want a fleet with strong support and parts availability (single aircraft flying)
- You require certainty on long-term factory support (SyberJet's small footprint)
- You prefer mainstream avionics ecosystem and pilot pool
Pros and Cons
What the SJ30-2 Does Well
- Fastest light jet ever built (Mach 0.83)
- Highest service ceiling in light jet class (49,000 ft)
- Sea-level cabin altitude to 41,000 ft (unique in business aviation)
- 2,500 nm range exceeds many midsize jets
- World records for speed-over-closed-course
- Single-pilot certified despite exceeding 12,500 lbs MTOW (Part 23 exemption)
Tradeoffs to Understand
- Only one SJ30 actively flying as of 2023
- Tumultuous corporate history (multiple bankruptcies)
- Specialty/very limited production
- Pilot pool and service network limited
- Long-term parts and support uncertainty
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the SyberJet SJ30 still in production?
SyberJet Aircraft continues to offer the SJ30i (updated variant of the SJ30-2) but production is very limited. The SJ30i made its maiden flight in October 2019 after the program restart by SyberJet.
What is unique about the SJ30-2 cabin?
The SJ30-2 is the first business jet designed around a 12 psi cabin pressurization differential, the highest in the industry. This maintains sea-level cabin altitude up to 41,000 feet and less than 1,800 ft cabin altitude at the aircraft's 49,000 ft service ceiling.
How fast is the SyberJet SJ30?
The SJ30-2 has a maximum cruise speed of Mach 0.83 (approximately 486 ktas / 559 mph), making it the fastest light jet ever certified.
How far can the SJ30 fly?
The SJ30-2 has a maximum NBAA IFR range of approximately 2,500 nautical miles with four passengers, capable of nonstop transcontinental U.S. missions.
Who designed the SJ30?
The SJ30 was designed by noted aircraft designer Ed Swearingen, who announced the SA-30 Fanjet concept in October 1986. After multiple ownership changes (Gulfstream agreement 1988, Jaffe Group 1990, Sino Aerospace 1995, Emirates Investment 2008, Metalcraft Technologies 2011), the type certificate is now held by SyberJet Aircraft.
How many SJ30s have been built?
A small number of SJ30-2 aircraft were built between certification in 2005 and Emivest's 2010 bankruptcy. As of 2023, only one SJ30 was reported as actively flying.
The Bottom Line
The SyberJet SJ30-2 is the most-performance-focused VLJ/Light Jet ever certified, delivering speed, range, and altitude capability that no other aircraft in its class can match. The unique 12 psi pressurization system delivers a passenger experience genuinely unique in business aviation. The tradeoffs are real and significant: production has been minimal, corporate history is troubled, and support infrastructure is limited. For specialty operators or enthusiasts seeking the fastest light jet ever built, the SJ30-2 has no direct equivalent. For most operators, current-production single-pilot alternatives (Citation M2 Gen2, HondaJet Elite II, Phenom 100EV) deliver better total ownership experience.
Quantum Jets supports the platform across private jet charter, private jet rental, private jet card programs, aircraft purchase, jet purchase, jet sales, aircraft sales, aircraft management, jet management, private jet management, aircraft maintenance, aircraft refurbishment, fractional jet access, aircraft lease, and aircraft leasing structures.
Talk to a Quantum Jets broker for SyberJet SJ30 market intelligence, advisory on long-term support considerations, and pre-buy diligence with attention to airframe condition, engine program enrollment, and parts availability.
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Book a SyberJet SJ30-2 on the Quantum Jets App by AVIA Technologies
The Quantum Jets mobile app, built by AVIA Technologies, is the private jet charter marketplace app for the SyberJet SJ30-2 and the rest of the Quantum Jets catalog. The Quantum Jets app is available as an iOS app on the Apple App Store and as an Android app on Google Play. Whether the goal is a one-off jet charter, recurring private jet rental, a private jet card program, or a deeper engagement spanning aircraft purchase, jet purchase, jet sales, aircraft management, jet management, private jet management, aircraft maintenance, aircraft refurbishment, fractional jet access, aircraft lease, aircraft leasing, or aircraft sales, the Quantum Jets app surfaces live SyberJet SJ30-2 availability and routes the booking through the Quantum Jets brokerage team.
AVIA Technologies is the technology platform behind the Quantum Jets mobile app. The AVIA Technologies app powers the private jet charter marketplace experience: search the catalog, compare a SyberJet SJ30-2 against alternatives in the same tier, pull live pricing, request a charter quote, schedule aircraft maintenance, list a SyberJet SJ30-2 for jet sales, manage a fleet under aircraft management or private jet management, and execute a private jet card purchase, all from one private jet app. The Quantum Jets app and the AVIA Technologies app share the same backend so client data, trip history, and aircraft preferences carry across both surfaces.
Download the Quantum Jets app on the Apple App Store (iOS app) or Google Play (Android app), then search the SyberJet SJ30-2 to start booking. The Quantum Jets mobile app is the fastest path from research to booking for any private jet, jet charter, private jet rental, or private jet charter marketplace transaction in the Quantum Jets catalog. AVIA Technologies maintains the private jet charter marketplace app on a continuous deployment schedule with new aircraft, new operators, and refined private jet management tooling shipping every release.
SyberJet SJ30-2 Services from Quantum Jets
Quantum Jets supports SyberJet SJ30-2 operators and prospective owners across the full lifecycle of private jet ownership. Whether the goal is jet charter for a one-off trip, a private jet rental for a busy season, or a private jet charter program tied to a recurring travel pattern, our team builds the right structure around the SyberJet SJ30-2 for the mission.
For buyers, our aircraft purchase and jet purchase advisory walks through inspection, valuation, financing, and closing. Jet sales and aircraft sales clients work with our team to position the SyberJet SJ30-2 for the strongest possible exit, with market intelligence on every comparable transaction. A private jet card program through Quantum Jets is a lower-commitment way to access SyberJet SJ30-2-class lift without a full aircraft purchase, and is structured to credit toward a future jet purchase when the time is right.
Once an aircraft is in hand, aircraft management and jet management at Quantum Jets cover crew, scheduling, regulatory compliance, charter revenue programs, and detailed reporting. Private jet management is structured to keep the SyberJet SJ30-2 flying safely and profitably with minimum owner overhead. Aircraft maintenance is coordinated through manufacturer-authorized service centers, and aircraft refurbishment programs (interior, paint, avionics, connectivity) are managed end-to-end so the SyberJet SJ30-2 retains residual value over its operating life.
Fractional jet programs are available for SyberJet SJ30-2-class travelers who want guaranteed access without sole ownership. Aircraft lease and aircraft leasing arrangements (operating, finance, dry, wet) are structured to match the operator's hours, geography, and balance sheet. The SyberJet SJ30-2 fits naturally into all of these structures, and Quantum Jets handles the structuring, documentation, and lifecycle service so the owner can focus on flying.
If you are evaluating a SyberJet SJ30-2 for purchase, charter, lease, fractional access, management, refurbishment, or sale, talk to a Quantum Jets broker for a custom market scan and pre-buy diligence.
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Specifications and pricing accurate as of 2026. The SyberJet SJ30 has had limited production with significant corporate history disruptions. All performance figures based on manufacturer published data and NBAA IFR fuel reserves unless otherwise noted.