Cirrus Cirrus Vision Jet SF50 — Light Jet charter aircraftEclipse Aerospace Eclipse 550 — Light Jet charter aircraft

Vision Jet SF50 vs Eclipse 550

A Cirrus vs Eclipse Aerospace showdown in the light jet class. The Cirrus Vision Jet SF50 carries 5 passengers with 1,275 nm of range; the Eclipse 550 carries 4 with 1,125 nm. Cabin dimensions land at 4'1" × 5'1" versus 4'2" × 4'8", and runway numbers read 2,036 ft against 2,342 ft. Indicative charter pricing on a representative sector: from £2,800 on the Jet SF50, from $4,400 on the Eclipse 550.

Cirrus Vision Jet SF50

CIRRUS

Cirrus Vision Jet SF50

The Cirrus Vision Jet SF50 is the world's only single-engine personal jet, with a unique CAPS whole-airframe parachute system. Five passengers, panoramic windows and a pressurised cabin make it ideal for short owner-pilot or charter missions.

FULL CIRRUS VISION JET SF50 PAGE →
Eclipse 550

ECLIPSE AEROSPACE

Eclipse 550

The Eclipse 550 is the definitive very light jet — a four-seat, twin-Pratt & Whitney PW610F powered aircraft with autothrottles, Avio IFMS avionics and by far the lowest fuel burn of any jet in charter service (roughly 59 US gal/hr). A niche but genuinely useful tool for short regional missions on tight budgets.

FULL ECLIPSE 550 PAGE →

SPECIFICATIONS

Side-by-side specifications

METRICVision Jet SF50Eclipse 550
Passengers54
Range1,275 nm1,125 nm
Cruise speedMach 0.53Mach 0.64
Cabin height4'1"4'2"
Cabin width5'1"4'8"
Baggage30 cu ft16 cu ft
Runway2,036 ft2,342 ft

Cirrus Vision Jet SF50 — strengths

  • CAPS whole-airframe parachute system
  • Single-engine economy
  • Short-runway access

Eclipse 550 — strengths

  • Lowest fuel burn of any charter jet
  • Sub-2,400 ft take-off distance
  • Autothrottles standard

CHARTER PRICING

Indicative pricing

CIRRUS VISION JET SF50
London → Manchesterfrom £2,800
Phoenix → Las Vegasfrom $3,500
ECLIPSE 550
Chicago → Detroitfrom $4,400
Dallas → Austinfrom $3,900

All-inclusive indicative one-way pricing. Confirmed quote in 10 minutes.

EXPERT VERDICT

The Vision Jet SF50 is the stronger all-rounder, but the Eclipse 550 still wins on the metrics that matter to specific buyers.

The Vision Jet SF50 pulls ahead on range / non-stop reach, cabin comfort, group capacity and airport access; the Eclipse 550 answers with speed & block time. Both sit in the light jet class, so charter pricing is broadly aligned — let the use case (range, group size, airport pair) drive the final call.

Range / non-stop reach

Vision Jet SF50

1,275 nm of range — the better choice for transcontinental and intercontinental missions.

Cabin comfort

Vision Jet SF50

Taller and/or wider cabin (4'1" × 5'1") — better for long flights and stand-up movement.

Group capacity

Vision Jet SF50

Seats up to 5 — the right pick when the manifest grows.

Airport access

Vision Jet SF50

Shorter 2,036 ft balanced-field requirement — opens up restricted alpine, island and city-adjacent airfields.

Speed & block time

Eclipse 550

Cruise of Mach 0.64 — shaves meaningful minutes off every long leg.

Verdict based on published manufacturer specifications, charter market data and Limitless Sky brokerage experience.

REQUEST A CHARTER QUOTE

Charter the Vision Jet SF50 or the Eclipse 550.

Tell us your route — our desk returns a confirmed quote on both aircraft within 10 minutes, so you can compare like-for-like on your exact mission.

CHOOSE WITH CONFIDENCE

Top reasons to choose — and who each aircraft is best for

A tailored summary for the Vision Jet SF50 and Eclipse 550: the deciding reasons in this matchup, plus the buyer archetypes each aircraft serves best.

CIRRUS

Top reasons to choose the Vision Jet SF50

  • Reaches 1,275 nm non-stop — 13% more range than the Eclipse 550, opening city pairs that would otherwise need a tech stop.
  • Bigger cabin envelope (4'1" tall × 5'1" wide) than the Eclipse 550 — meaningful difference on flights over three hours.
  • Seats up to 5 passengers vs 4 on the Eclipse 550 — better for full-group charters and family travel.
  • Lands in 2,036 ft balanced field — accesses short, restricted and city-adjacent airports the Eclipse 550 cannot.
  • 30 cu ft of baggage volume — fits ski, golf and extended-stay luggage that crowds the Eclipse 550.

BEST FOR

  • Longer non-stop reach

    When the mission is on the edge of the Eclipse 550's envelope, the 1,275 nm legs of the Vision Jet SF50 keep reserves intact.

  • Larger party charters

    Up to 5 seats vs 4 on the Eclipse 550 — the natural pick when the manifest grows last-minute.

  • Short-field departures

    2,036 ft balanced field unlocks airports the Eclipse 550 cannot use, putting passengers closer to the door.

  • Two-hour business hops

    Lowest jet-class operating cost for 1–2 hour European or US regional legs.

ECLIPSE AEROSPACE

Top reasons to choose the Eclipse 550

  • Cruises at Mach 0.64, trimming block time on every leg vs the Vision Jet SF50 (Mach 0.53).
  • Lowest fuel burn of any charter jet
  • Sub-2,400 ft take-off distance
  • Autothrottles standard

BEST FOR

  • Two-hour business hops

    Lowest jet-class operating cost for 1–2 hour European or US regional legs.

  • Short-runway escapes

    Unlocks airfields like London City alternatives, Lugano and Aspen.

  • 4–6 passenger weekends

    Right-sized for a couple plus friends or a small family weekend break.

  • Last-minute charter

    Largest charter fleet of any jet class — strongest empty-leg availability.

PROS & CONS

Honest assessment

CIRRUS

Cirrus Vision Jet SF50

PROS

  • +CAPS whole-airframe parachute system
  • +Single-engine economy
  • +Short-runway access
  • +Longer legs than the Eclipse 550 (1,275 nm vs 1,125 nm) — fewer fuel stops on intercontinental missions.
  • +Carries up to 5 passengers vs 4 on the Eclipse 550 — better for larger groups.
  • +Wider cabin (5'1") makes a meaningful difference at the shoulders vs the Eclipse 550.

CONS

  • Slightly slower in cruise than the Eclipse 550 (Mach 0.53 vs Mach 0.64).

ECLIPSE AEROSPACE

Eclipse 550

PROS

  • +Lowest fuel burn of any charter jet
  • +Sub-2,400 ft take-off distance
  • +Autothrottles standard
  • +Faster cruise (Mach 0.64) trims block time on every leg vs the Vision Jet SF50.

CONS

  • Shorter range than the Vision Jet SF50 (1,125 nm vs 1,275 nm) — may require a tech stop on long sectors.
  • Maximum 4-seat layout is tight if you regularly travel with more than 4 — the Vision Jet SF50 adds 1 seat.
  • Tighter baggage capacity than the Vision Jet SF50 (16 cu ft vs 30 cu ft).

REAL-WORLD MISSIONS

Which aircraft for which mission

Four scenarios our charter desk sees regularly — and which of these two we would actually quote.

SCENARIO 01

Two-hour business hop with four executives and overnight bags

OUR PICKVision Jet SF50

Curated example: London → Edinburgh sits in the Vision Jet SF50's sweet spot.

SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →

SCENARIO 02

Weekend ski trip — Geneva to Sion with full ski equipment

OUR PICKVision Jet SF50

Shorter runway requirement (2,036 ft) opens up the airfield.

SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →

SCENARIO 03

Day-return board meeting between secondary cities

OUR PICKVision Jet SF50

Curated example: London → Edinburgh sits in the Vision Jet SF50's sweet spot.

SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →

SCENARIO 04

Family of five to a Mediterranean island for a long weekend

OUR PICKVision Jet SF50

Larger cabin seats the full group (5).

SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →

ROUTE RECOMMENDATIONS

Best pick per route

ROUTEDISTANCERECOMMENDEDWHY
London → Paris190 nmVision Jet SF50Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes.
Geneva → Ibiza560 nmVision Jet SF50Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes.
Teterboro → Miami950 nmVision Jet SF50Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes.
London → Athens1,500 nmEitherBoth would require a tech stop on this routing — talk to us about positioning.

Distances are great-circle approximations; actual fuel planning accounts for winds, weather and reserves.

FAQ

Vision Jet SF50 vs Eclipse 550 — frequently asked

Vision Jet SF50 vs Eclipse 550: which has the longer range?OPEN

The Cirrus Vision Jet SF50 has a published range of 1,275 nm; the Eclipse 550 is rated at 1,125 nm. The longer-range aircraft opens up more non-stop city pairs without a tech stop.

Which is faster — Vision Jet SF50 or Eclipse 550?OPEN

Cruise speeds are Mach 0.53 for the Cirrus Vision Jet SF50 and Mach 0.64 for the Eclipse 550. On a London → Manchester-style mission the faster aircraft typically saves 10–25 minutes block time.

How many passengers does each aircraft carry?OPEN

The Cirrus Vision Jet SF50 seats 5; the Eclipse 550 seats 4. Charter prices below assume a typical executive layout — high-density configurations are available on request.

What does it cost to charter the Cirrus Vision Jet SF50 vs the Eclipse 550?OPEN

Indicative one-way pricing on a benchmark mission: Cirrus Vision Jet SF50 from from £2,800, Eclipse 550 from from $4,400. Confirmed quote in 10 minutes — pricing varies with empty-leg availability, season and routing.

Which aircraft is better for transatlantic or long-range missions?OPEN

Both belong to the Light Jet category, but range, payload and runway performance differ. See the route-recommendations table on this page for our specific pick per corridor.

How much cabin space does the Vision Jet SF50 have vs the Eclipse 550?OPEN

Cabin comfort is the everyday difference passengers feel most. Both the Cirrus Vision Jet SF50 and Eclipse 550 sit in the Light Jet class, so cabin height, width and layout differ subtly — on flights over 3 hours those details matter more than raw range. Ask us for a side-by-side floorplan.

Which aircraft is safer — Vision Jet SF50 or Eclipse 550?OPEN

Both aircraft in this comparison are operated under ARG/US, Wyvern or IS-BAO safety programmes when chartered through Limitless Sky. Safety is driven by operator, crew currency and maintenance regime — not the airframe. We only book operators meeting our verified due-diligence checklist.

What's the total mission cost — not just the hourly rate?OPEN

Hourly pricing (from £2,800 for the Vision Jet SF50, from $4,400 for the Eclipse 550) is only one input. Total mission cost includes positioning legs, overnight fees, landing/handling, catering, de-icing and FET where applicable. Our confirmed quote itemises every line so there are no surprises.

MORE COMPARISONS

Compare more light jets

VISION JET SF50 × ECLIPSE 550 CLUSTER

Continue researching Vision Jet SF50 or Eclipse 550

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