Emivest Aerospace’s SJ30 light business jet established an unofficial speed record for its weight class on November 10, flying from London to Dubai in seven hours and seven minutes, including a 41-minute refueling stop in Istanbul, Turkey.  

The flight, piloted by Action Aviation chairman Hamish Harding and Emivest’s Bryan Dennison, covered a great-circle distance of 3,470 sm for an average speed of 424 knots. The London-Dubai speed dash by SJ30 S/N 007 is claimed to be the fastest time recorded for any airplane weighing less than 20,000 pounds. A Gulfstream V set the overall speed record between London and Dubai in 1997, flying nonstop at an average speed of 452 knots.

Commenting on the record flight, Harding noted, “With a high-speed cruise of 486 knots and a range of 2,500 nautical miles, the SJ30 has truly exceptional performance for a light jet. Breaking records has become almost a habit.”

Action Aviation is the SJ30’s Middle East distributor. Dubai-based Emivest in June became the majority shareholder of the San Antonio, Texas-based aircraft manufacturer (formerly known as Sino Swearingen) when it agreed to pump a minimum of $150 million into the company to restart and accelerate production of the light jet.

The record-setting SJ30 is parked this week at the Action Aviation pavilion (OD5).