If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would buy? For many people, the answer is a private jet. To fuel your dreams or just to gawk at the amazing world of luxury private travel, here is a list of the best private jet manufacturers out there.
Private jets are the preferred way for celebrities, top politicians, golfers, billionaires, and even royalty to travel. Nothing beats having your own plane that you can direct to fly anywhere in the world that you want, with enough luxury and privacy to relax during your flight.
The quality of the private jet is what really makes flying in one feel like a luxury. In the decades since private plane travel became popular, manufacturers started pushing the envelope in terms of the quality and comfort of their crafts, adding better engineering and more amenities.
Which are the manufacturers that are above and beyond compared to the competitors? Here are the best private jet manufacturers in the world right now, if you have a few spare million dollars lying around or just want to dream.
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10. Honda
Is there anything that Honda can’t do? Besides making great cars and scooters, the Japanese company recently branched out into making private airplanes with its subsidiary company HondaJet. It released its first private jet in 2015, the HA-420.
The Honda HA-420 is a lightweight 8-seater business aircraft. Famous for its tinkering and superiority in engineering, Honda released an even better version of the aircraft, the HondaJet Elite, in 2018. The newer version has an increased range, a more intuitive cockpit design, and a comfy cabin. Honda even expanded into the VLJ (Very Light Jet) category with its HA-420 VLJ.
Honda is lower on this list because it still isn’t very popular among business travelers. However, as it becomes a more established name in the private jet field, private jet owners will surely catch on to the quality of Honda engineering.
9. Dassault
Dassault is one of the oldest manufacturers of private jets. Founded in 1929 in France, the company manufactures military aircraft as well as business jets. Some of its most popular models for private air travel are from its Dassault Falcon series.
Dassault’s Falcon planes, including the Falcon 8X and 10X, are some of the most popular planes among business flyers for international travel. That’s because these planes have some of the best mileage and speed in the field.
Dassault’s private jets can get you where you need to go, and fast, without sacrificing much in the way of comfort. The triple engines are some of the quietest in the business. The roomy cabin also has plenty of space for all of your passengers to stretch out.
8. Airbus
The French company Airbus is one of the world’s biggest aircraft manufacturers, with military and civilian innovations. It even makes private jets, although these airplanes don’t make up the bulk of its operations.
Airbus Corporate Jets is the company’s division focusing on private aircraft. It includes several models, of which the Airbus ACJ TwoTwenty is one of the most popular. This massive private jet has an extensive range, perfect for international travel.
Airbus also offers airliners modified into private jets. Imagine flying in a space built for hundreds of passengers with just a few close friends or family members. Airbus partners with the company Comlux which modifies these liners, fitting them with amenities such as high cabin ceilings, several “rooms,” and even a master bedroom with a shower.
7. Boeing
Of course, one of the world’s largest aviation companies would also make great private jets. Boeing is a leader in military aviation, space travel, and manufacturing massive passenger jets. Its private jets are nothing to sneeze at, competing with and sometimes outperforming companies that exclusively focus on private aircraft. It even narrowly pips its main competitor, Airbus, in terms of private jets.
The most popular Boeing private jet model is the BBJ Max 7, which international private travelers adore for its extensive range and spacious cabin. The BBJ Max 7 can seat eight passengers and has an easily modifiable cabin which you can rearrange in private and common areas.
Another jewel in Boeing’s crown is the Boeing 737. While normally a massive passenger jet, Boeing offers a few 737s converted into private planes. The multimillion-dollar aircraft offer unparalleled luxury including onboard bars, wide-screen TVs, and even a conference table.
6. Pilatus
One of the world’s best private aircraft manufacturers is probably a company that you’ve never heard of. The Swiss company Pilatus may not be famous among the general public, but it is certainly beloved by the people who can afford private aircraft. Pilatus was voted the most reliable aircraft among owners of private jets.
Pilatus specializes in smaller planes such as single-engine turboprops. Its most popular models are the PC-12, PC-24, and PC-9.
Owners may not use Pilatus crafts to travel to Dubai in luxury, but these flying masterworks of engineering can land everywhere, including on unpaved runways. They are favorites among people with large ranches and those who like getting into the backcountry.
5. Embraer
Brazilian Embraer is one of the top companies in the aerospace world. Its star seems to be rising as it beat out Airbus for a coveted contract from Canadian Porter Airlines. Besides mass passenger transport, where it is the world’s third-largest producer, one of the areas where Embraer shines the most is in manufacturing private planes.
Popular Embraer models are the Phenom 300E, a favorite for business travelers, and the Praetor 500. Embraer’s planes are famous for their high caliber of engineering and versatility, making them perfect for the demanding runways that characterize many private airports. VIPs who want a lot more room in their private jet can buy Embraer’s ultra-large airliner, the Lineage 1000.
Business travelers are recognizing the efforts of this relatively new company in the manufacturing space. In a survey, Embraer’s planes routinely topped the light aircraft category when respondents were asked which aircraft they would most like to fly in regularly.
4. Textron Cessna
Cessna is one of the most famous manufacturers of private aircraft, even among people who can’t afford to shop for their own planes. The brand is a common feature in pop culture and media, where it pops up as a shortcut to show that someone is filthy rich. Even though Cessna was sold to aviation giant Textron in 1992, its quality and reputation have endured for decades as a separate brand.
Cessna really dominates in the field of medium-sized jets, where it topped the Business Jet Traveler survey in owner satisfaction. Its most popular model is the Citation Latitude, which has space for 12 passengers. The Citation Latitude also excels in its range. It can fly up to 3,500 nautical miles without refueling.
Cessna is also a very popular manufacturer of light sports planes such as the Cessna 172 Skyhawk, one of the most-produced airplanes in the world. For those who can afford private planes and love the sport of aviation, Cessna is still a favorite.
3. Cirrus
Cirrus may not be one of the biggest names in the private aircraft manufacturing space, but those in the know respect the company’s engineering. As of 2020, the Cirrus SF50 VisionJet was the most delivered private jet in the world. Among those who collect private aircraft, Cirrus is clearly a must-have.
The American Cirrus company excels when it comes to ultralight aircraft. It has a great range for aircraft of its size, a spacious cabin, and excellent safety features such as a built-in auto-landing system in case of an emergency.
As Cirrus expands into more models, this company will become even more of a power player on the private jet scene. The prohibitive price tag, nearly $3 million, makes a Cirrus plane a true symbol of exclusivity.
2. Bombardier
Bombardier is one of the best companies when it comes to unparalleled luxury, even in a space characterized by excess such as the private aircraft industry. Models such as the Global 7500 go above and beyond in terms of luxury.
The Global 7500 has the longest range of any dedicated business jet. Its interior has a spacious cabin, plush leather seating, and even a separate space for the crew. Talk about traveling in style! The manufacturer doesn’t skimp on engineering quality either, with technology such as advanced HEPA filters and a Smooth Flex Wing to minimize disturbances.
Bombardier is also the company behind the very popular Learjet short-haul private jets.
1. Gulfstream
Gulfstream is one of the powerhouses of the private jet sphere. It has many excellent models, including the G650 family, the massive G700, and G500. Any list of the best private airplane models has several Gulfstreams on it, not just one model.
Owning a Gulfstream is a status symbol of its own, which is why it tops the list of the best private aircraft manufacturers. The planet’s most powerful people, from Elon Musk to Jeff Bezos, own Gulfstream jets. According to Business Jet Insider, most business travelers covet flying regularly in a Gulfstream G650.
Gulfstream could easily coast onwards on its success, but the company more than earns its position as one of the top private aircraft manufacturers with excellent engineering, unparalleled luxury, and constant innovation including jet lag-reducing features in the G700.
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