We're vacationing on Ocracoke Island, NC and I went for a run past a tiny local airport. There was a small V Tail aircraft that had what appeared to be a jet engine on top of the fuselage near the rear. No pics as I didn't have a phone or camera. I'm definitely not very knowledgeable about modern aircraft, but have never seen anything like it.

Maybe this?:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cirrus_Vision_SF50

Maybe V Tail will chime in.

Cirrus Vision SF50, maybe?

^^^^^^^^
Looks about right.

Enjoy Ocracoke. It's our favorite spot on the OBX. It has, at least for us, a Key West vibe. Really laid back, there is even a street that is filled with what appears to be old hippies.

Where are you staying? If you haven't already, check out the 'English Cemetery". It's a cool piece of history and tradition.

Fouga Magister, 2 seat tandem version... but with the engine on top it was likely a Cirrus.

quote:

Fouga Magister

When is the last time you saw one flying?

For me, it was in the early 80s in Europe.

There's one that comes in and out of PDK here all the time.

I work in the final approach vector and see all sorts of planes.

Yesterday there was a Trojan in the pattern. You could hear that round engine for miles.

Brad,

It's our favorite also, we come down almost every spring. We're renting one of the Horizon condos. It's right on the Sound, so very convenient to launch our kayaks.

The British Cemetery is interesting. We actually attended the annual ceremony honoring the British sailors last year, it was very impressive. There were officials representing the US, the UK, and Germany. Until we started coming down here I had no idea how many ships were sunk by U-boats off the Outer Banks in WWII. I think there was about one ship going down every day in May of '42 or thereabouts.

Okracoke? Are you sure it wasn't one of those jet-powered mutant mosquitos they have down there? Only place I've ever been where I thought they might actually carry me away!

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Originally posted by architect:
Okracoke? Are you sure it wasn't one of those jet-powered mutant mosquitos they have down there? Only place I've ever been where I thought they might actually carry me away!

Nah, that's SE TX where they're the unofficial state bird.

Aviation is amazing. Those planes are beautiful, never seen those guys. You have to respect aviators. So many things to track and process simultaneously, it's an inborn skill and art. Must be.

quote:

Originally posted by sigmonkey:

quote:

Fouga Magister

When is the last time you saw one flying?

For me, it was in the early 80s in Europe.

There were 2 FM's at Sun-n-Fun this year, and I occasionally see one of the very rare 4-seat versions at KSNA. I didn't see the tandems actually fly into Lakeland, but am 99% certain they weren't trucked in.
Admittedley, the OP most likely saw one of the plastic fantastic cirrus jets.

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
Cirrus Vision SF50, maybe?

Never heard of them before today, but dang if it isn't an interesting back story:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cirrus_Vision_SF50

The Vision Jet is a very cool little plane. It is can be flown single pilot. It's got the one center-mounted engine so a multi-engine rating isn't required. Anyone with a private pilot certificate, instrument rating and a 3rd class medical certificate can fly it. It does require a type rating, which takes less than a week to get at the Cirrus facility.

quote:

Originally posted by ChicagoSigMan:
The Vision Jet is a very cool little plane. It is can be flown single pilot. It's got the one center-mounted engine so a multi-engine rating isn't required. Anyone with a private pilot certificate, instrument rating and a 3rd class medical certificate can fly it. It does require a type rating, which takes less than a week to get at the Cirrus facility.

It's a sharp looking bird, too.
Didn't think about the lack of need for a multi-engine rating for it.
$1.7-2.3M

For semi-related pricing:
Cessna Citation Mustang: $3-4M new, $1.8-3M used
Citation M2: $4.35M

I saw one of these Friday in the Tahoe-Truckee airport. Odd-looking bird. Controller.com will sell you one for $1.75 million.

Also went to Carson City to visit a friend who had moved there. That little airport included what looked like a Lake Amphibian and an early post-war Cessna 140: aluminum, round tail, tail-dragger.

Like anything in aviation, buying it is the easy part, it’s the operating costs that kill you. That Vision Jet drinks 50-75 gallons per hour, or $800/hr, just in Jet-A. Plus maintenance, hangar, etc.

That Fouga up there is the ultimate example. I’ve seen them on sale, in good, flyable condition, for $50k. Far cheaper than a Cessna. But the fuel costs? 150 GPH.

However, the Fouga is pretty as hell with that long aspect ratio wing, and some super interesting history in the Six Day War and in Africa.

quote:

Originally posted by Shackelford:

50-75 gallons per hour, or $800/hr, just in Jet-A

That maff doesn't work for me. Jet-A prices around here are as low as $5.55 / gallon.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by Shackelford:

50-75 gallons per hour, or $800/hr, just in Jet-A

That maff doesn't work for me. Jet-A prices around here are as low as $5.55 / gallon.

Yeah, it’s over $8/gal here locally. So, it should be $600, not $800.