Cirrus VK-30
Cirrus may be a familiar name in general aviation now, but they too had to start small. It was with the VK-30 kit plane. The VK-30 is a single prop aircraft with a piston engine in the middle of fuselage, driving a three blade pusher propeller at the rear of the fuselage via a long shaft. Some have been equipped with a turbine engine though. Above it a nearly straight vertical fin. The engine has air intakes at the upper sides of the fuselage, behind the cabin. Other features include a single piece cockpit window, two large cabin windows and an all single wheel gear, of which the nose gear retracts forward. The entry door is on the right, behind the cockit. It opens in two parts, up and down.
The cabin door on the right side of the Cirrus VK-30 opens in two parts, up and down. Note the pointed, streamlined nose.
The engine of the VK-30 is behind the cabin and drives a propeller in the rear via a long shaft. Note the intake left of the rear cabin window, ventral fin and nearly straight vertical fin.
Confusion possible with
Cirrus/Israviation ST50
The ST50 being developed from the VK-30 means it has the same basic configuration and many common elements. The ST50 has a turboprop engine in the rear fuselage, with an intake underneath the fuselage and exhausts at the upper side. Also the cabin windows are smaller and the nose gear retracts rearward. FInally, it has a true cruciform tail, with the drive shaft at the intersection.
Jetcruzer 450
The Jetcruzer 450 also has a pusher prop in the rear fuselage and is of similar size as the VK-30. However, the Jetcruzer has a canard configuration with vertical stabilisers at the ends of the wings. (photo Bernhard C.F. Klein Memorial Collection - 1000aircraftphotos.com)