Robinson added that the jets, dubbed the StarLiner family, will cruise at speeds of Mach 0.8, or 575 mph, and will reach an altitude of 41,000 feet.
Alliance intends to meet the demands of a growing regional jet market in North America and Europe.
It already has letters of intent from firms in the Far East and Europe for 30 of its jets, and is continuing discussions with airlines in the United States and Europe. Robinson said those planes will also stress comfort, including more than six feet of head room. Those planes will cruise at the same speed as the larger models, he added. It's a very fast plane. Robinson predicts there is a market for about 2,800 of the smaller-sized regional jets beginning in 2004 and extending through 2024.