SpaceX founder Elon Musk reportedly has installed beta-test versions of Starlink avionics on his own Gulf- stream G650ER to evaluate performance and reliability. The first production Starlink boxes have been installed on 77 JSX Embraer ERJ 135s and ERJ 145s, with pilots telling BusinessAIR they’re seeing consistent 100 Mbps connection speeds both in flight and on the ground with 20- to 40-millisecond latency. Hawaiian Airlines has an- nounced intentions to install Starlink on its transocean- ic jetliners. Phoenix Air Group in Carterville, Georgia, has been doing much of the Starlink development work in part- nership with SpaceX. The firm is installing equipment on a Gulfstream GIII with the intent of earning an STC that will cover GII through G550 aircraft, all of which sport the same fuselage contours. The top-mounted Starlink patch antenna, with inte- gral SatCom transceiver, capitalizes on electronically steered, phased-array antenna technologies developed for Starlink’s ground-based consumer grade systems. The basic top-mounted antenna measures 30 inches long, 20 inches wide, and 1.5 inches high, and weighs 35 pounds. It’s attached to a conformal “shoe” or adapter plate that’s bolted or riveted to the fuselage. The an- tenna/transceiver feeds two Wi-Fi routers in the cabin. Starlink’s aviation system is powered by 110/220-volt, 50 Phoenix Air Group in Carterville, Georgia, has been doing much of the Starlink development work in part- nership with SpaceX. The firm is installing equipment on a Gulfstream GIII with the intent of earning an STC that will cover GII through G550 aircraft, all of which sport the same fuselage contours. The top-mounted Starlink patch antenna, with inte- gral SatCom transceiver, capitalizes on electronically steered, phased-array antenna technologies developed for Starlink’s ground-based consumer grade systems. The basic top-mounted antenna measures 30 inches long, 20 inches wide, and 1.5 inches high, and weighs 35 pounds. It’s attached to a conformal “shoe” or adapter plate that’s bolted or riveted to the fuselage. The an- tenna/transceiver feeds two Wi-Fi routers in the cabin. Starlink’s aviation system is powered by 110/220-volt, 50 SpaceX founder Elon Musk reportedly has installed beta-test versions of Starlink avionics on his own Gulf- stream G650ER to evaluate performance and reliability. The first production Starlink boxes have been installed on 77 JSX Embraer ERJ 135s and ERJ 145s, with pilots telling BusinessAIR they’re seeing consistent 100 Mbps connection speeds both in flight and on the ground with 20- to 40-millisecond latency. Hawaiian Airlines has an- nounced intentions to install Starlink on its transocean- ic jetliners.
to 60 Hz AC, so it requires a 28-volt DC or 115-volt 400 Hz AC power converter. Phoenix Air Group and Starlink plan to develop STCs for every major business aircraft manufacturer, includ- ing Bombardier Challenger 300/350/3500 and Global series jets, Dassault Falcon 2000, Embraer ERJ 135/145, and Gulfstream G450, G550, and G650. The basic Star- link boxes cost $150,000, according to the firm’s website. Out of the hangar, estimated cost of installed equip- ment should be in the $300,000 to $350,000 range. Sub- scription prices will range from $12,500 to $25,000 per month with unlimited data, according to Starlink. Starlink has announced a second-generation system that also will use V-band (47.2 GHz to 50.2 GHz; 50.4 GHz to 51.4 GHz), but it’s unknown whether first-gen- eration aviation spec KU-band/KA-band systems can be modified or whether they’ll have to be replaced. The Starlink website has no chat box, no sales or custom- er service phone numbers, no email addresses, and no names of company representatives. SpaceX plans to go public with more details later this year, according to company insiders. GEO SATCOM KU-band and L-band GEO SatCom connectivity sud- denly seems so 20th century now that KA-band systems Starlink has announced a second-generation system that also will use V-band (47.2 GHz to 50.2 GHz; 50.4 GHz to 51.4 GHz), but it’s unknown whether first-gen- eration aviation spec KU-band/KA-band systems can be modified or whether they’ll have to be replaced. The Starlink website has no chat box, no sales or custom- er service phone numbers, no email addresses, and no names of company representatives. SpaceX plans to go public with more details later this year, according to company insiders. GEO SATCOM KU-band and L-band GEO SatCom connectivity sud- denly seems so 20th century now that KA-band systems to 60 Hz AC, so it requires a 28-volt DC or 115-volt 400 Hz AC power converter. Phoenix Air Group and Starlink plan to develop STCs for every major business aircraft manufacturer, includ- ing Bombardier Challenger 300/350/3500 and Global series jets, Dassault Falcon 2000, Embraer ERJ 135/145, and Gulfstream G450, G550, and G650. The basic Star- link boxes cost $150,000, according to the firm’s website. Out of the hangar, estimated cost of installed equip- ment should be in the $300,000 to $350,000 range. Sub- scription prices will range from $12,500 to $25,000 per month with unlimited data, according to Starlink.
SmartSky uses a Citation Excel for in-flight customer demonstrations of its 5G connectivity system, providing real-time performance metrics to back up its marketing claims. SmartSky uses a Citation Excel for in-flight customer demonstrations of its 5G connectivity system, providing real-time performance metrics to back up its marketing claims.
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