Grand designs for pan-European VLJ operations seem to have been largely superseded by the reality of operators focused on more modest ambitions. These include plans to build outwards from suitable home country markets that rely on around half-a-dozen Mustangs, Phenoms or the revived Eclipse.

Hotelier and pilot Ruchir Gupta is launching an owners' club which he believes will lead to shared ownership of a fleet of Eclipse 500s and Citation Mustangs.

The Mustang continues to expand its pivotal role in fractional ownership plans and in many European charter fleets despite the economic downturn.