Excel-Jet Aircraft Xl-2

Single Jet

The Excel-Jet XL-2 represents one of aviation's most audacious homebuilt projects: a single-seat personal jet small enough to fit in a standard garage yet capable of genuine jet performance. Designed and kitted by Excel-Jet Aircraft, the XL-2 emerged in the early 2000s as part of a brief wave of ultralight jet experimentation, powered by small turbojets originally developed for target drones and cruise missiles. With a maximum takeoff weight under one ton, it remains among the lightest certified jet aircraft ever flown by private pilots. The XL-2's appeal lies in its accessibility: builders can complete the kit in roughly 2,000 hours, and operating costs, while higher than piston singles, are a fraction of conventional business jets. Its single PBS TJ-100 or similar microjet produces around 250 pounds of thrust, enough to cruise near 300 knots and climb to the mid-twenties, performance that places it alongside high-end piston singles but with the smoothness and altitude capability only turbine power provides. The type has attracted a devoted if small community of owner-builders, mostly in the United States and Australia, who prize the novelty of jet ownership without the seven-figure price tag. SkyMeter has tracked 13 flights across 8 airframes and 8 operators, with LA CLAIE PRODUCTIONS INC the largest observed operator.