Recent-model Gulfstreams are the Ferraris of private jets, with prices reaching up to $50 million each. Their sleek fuselages contain some of the most advanced control and navigation systems available. Fully fueled, the sophisticated jets with their plush interiors can fly 16 executives coast to coast at speeds of up to 527 mph — about 0.80 on the Mach meter, not far from the speed of sound. The twin-engine aircraft and others like it have become increasingly popular across the country — but not at Santa Monica Airport. There, local leaders and the Federal Aviation Administration are locked in a legal battle over the city’s unprecedented attempt to ban certain high-performance jets for safety reasons. For the full story visit http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-jetban19-2008may19,0,3489430.story