The Spectrum S-40 Freedom was a business jet developed by Spectrum Aeronautical. The aircraft was first announced at the 2006 NBAA Conference in Orlando, Florida.
The S-40 is expected to be classified as a very light jet, albeit it is planned to feature a cabin comparable to the Lear 60, Hawker 800, Phenom 300 and the Citation XLS, at a Maximum Take-Off Weight of less than 10000lb.[1]
It will be built using a graphite-epoxy construction process that makes the aircraft one third the weight of comparably sized aluminium airplanes. The aircraft is designed to cruise at 45000feet at speeds up to 435 knots (Mach 0.76) and fly as far as 4170 km - while consuming about 40% less fuel than conventionally built planes - using two GE Honda HF120 engines.[2]
The retail sales price of the aircraft is supposed to be US-$6.8 million. In May 2011 Spectrum president Austin Blue is quoted: "We are still trying to get the programmes advancing, but it is not easy" The aircraft is to be released about 12 months before the smaller Spectrum S-33 Independence.[3] FAA and JAA Type Certifications of the S-40 Freedom were initially estimated for 2010.
In 2016, the company stated that it was looking for funding to produce the S-40 in Mexico.[4]