- 30 Sep 2022
- Mike Chase
- Jet Comparisons
The range capabilities of large jets vary between around 3,500 nautical miles up to almost 7,500nm non-stop, and the cabins of these aircraft can comfortably accommodate 10 to 18 passengers.
Popular aircraft in this category include jets built by Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Dassault Falcon, Embraer and Gulfstream.
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The Gulfstream G550 is the most popular Large Jet model, with 622 aircraft delivered by Gulfstream over the course of a production run lasting between 2003 and 2020.
Though a brand-new Large Jet from the traditional business jet manufacturers costs between $32.4m and $78.0m, per Aircraft Bluebook’s Fall 2022 data, buyers shopping the pre-owned market will find a very wide range of pricing. For example, a 2001-model Bombardier Global Express costs an average $11.0m. Jets classed as Businessliners can cost up to a few hundred million dollars (in the case of the largest, newest wide-body models), down to as little as $3.0m for a 2006 model Bombardier Challenger 850ER (for example).
The cockpits and airframes of the Large Jets are big enough to fit the most sophisticated safety-enhancing technology aboard, enhancing pilots’ ability to maximize situational awareness and fly safely in low visibility conditions.
The Large Jets rely on greater speed to cover the larger distances they cover as quickly as possible. Large Jets have maximum cruise speeds ranging between 450 and 520 knots.
Large Jets Overview
By Matt Harris - Commissioning Editor, AvBuyer magazine
Buyers seeking a brand-new Large Jet direct from the OEM can expect to pay between $32.4m (2022-model Bombardier Challenger 650) and approximately $78.0m (2022-model Gulfstream G700), according to Aircraft Bluebook’s Fall 2022 data. New models from Boeing and Airbus start above $100m for a VVIP converted airliner (BBJ or ACJ).
Buyers in the pre-owned market will find models for significantly less – depending on age, condition and maintenance status, among other items.
Large jets include ultra-long-range and large-cabin business jets, and are ideal for owners needing to fly trans-oceanic trips or transporting larger groups of passengers on a regular basis.
Most large jets have seats that can be easily reconfigured as beds for those longer flights. They can also incorporate boardrooms, dining rooms, private screening rooms. Amenities tend to include a galley, lavatory (or two) and in-flight accessible luggage area, while some also offer a dedicated crew rest area.
In addition to the in-production jets, several out-of-production models from the same manufacturers are available on the pre-owned market.
Within the Large Jet category are jets for sale that could be sub-divided as Large Cabin jets, Ultra-Long-Range Jets or Businessliners. Jets classed as ‘Large Cabin’ offer shorter ranges of between 3,500 and 5,000 nautical miles, but have cabin that are similar in size to the Ultra-Long-Range Jets, which have ranges between 5,000 and 7,700 nautical miles.
These aircraft are purpose-built as business jets, and typical passenger seating is for between 10 and 18, often distributed through more than one cabin zone. In fact, owing to the size of their cabins, Large Jets offer their owners the most flexibility for cabin configuration, equipage (connectivity, galley, lavatory, and comfort), etc.
The Businessliners, meanwhile, are airliner models that are marketed and configured as VVIP aircraft. These could be smaller, narrow-body regional airliner models, wide-body airliner models that exceed 15,000nm range non-stop, and anything in between.
The spacious cabins of these converted airliners naturally can be configured to seat several more passengers across multiple zones, making them popular as governmental or royal airplanes, banking corporations, or even with sports teams needing to transport greater numbers of people over long distances.
More Information:
View AvBuyer's Articles about Large Jet Models
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