Most Revolutionary Business Jets of the Past 60 Years

Thursday, August 04, 2022 Thursday, August 04, 2022

Gulfstream II

FIRST FLIGHT: October 2, 1966

IMPACT: First large business jet with an exquisite cabin and extended range.

VERDICT: “With a stout airframe to withstand heavy transport demands, the GII became the executive transcontinental jet of choice.”

Dassault Falcon 50

FIRST FLIGHT: November 7, 1976

IMPACT: Dramatically extended range in the super-midsize category.

VERDICT: “The three-engine design—the first of its kind—made nonstop travel across the North Atlantic or continental US possible, setting the stage for decades of successful tri-jet Falcons.”

Cessna Citation X

FIRST FLIGHT: December 21, 1993

IMPACT: Clean-sheet design that shattered Cessna’s image as a maker of slow jets.

VERDICT: “The X was Cessna’s counterpunch to Learjet, making it an instant super-midsize category leader with its 607 mph top speed.”

Embraer Phenom 300

FIRST FLIGHT: April 29, 2008

IMPACT: Breakthrough design in a light-jet airframe.

VERDICT: “The best of what a small executive jet can be, with a single-pilot flight deck, 2,000-nautical-mile range, advanced cabin entertainment and room for nine passengers.”

Citation Latitude

FIRST FLIGHT: February 18, 2014

IMPACT: Reinvigorated the midsize-jet category with a clean-sheet fuselage.

VERDICT: “The enhancements included a lower cabin air pressure, flat floor and Garmin’s G5000 avionics that made the Latitude a favorite among pilots.”

Airbus ACJ320neo

FIRST FLIGHT: November 19, 2018

IMPACT: Bespoke interiors and a 6,000-nautical-mile range make it the pinnacle of air travel for up to 25.

VERDICT: “The cabin on this massive wide-body, 15 percent larger than its closest competitor, can be laid out in highly creative configurations.”

BBJ MAX 7

FIRST FLIGHT: March 16, 2018

IMPACT: With the lowest operating costs of any BBJ model, the Max 7 is the evolution of the BBJ Max 8 and Max 9, delivering 7,000 miles of range with its more fuel-efficient LEAP-1B engines. Its enormous cabin is 85 feet long and 11 feet wide, for about 884 square feet.

VERDICT: “When the 737 Max comes back online, passengers will love the space and solitude of the Max 7’s luxurious cabin and owners will surely notice the increased ROI.”

Gulfstream G700

FIRST FLIGHT: February 14, 2020

IMPACT: Longest, widest and tallest cabin of any business jet, featuring five living zones.

VERDICT: “Travel up to 7,500 miles in a cabin that minimizes jet lag with true circadian lighting while being bathed in sunlight from 20 panoramic oval windows.”

Bombardier Challenger 3500

FIRST FLIGHT: Late 2022

IMPACT: The Challenger emerges as a new contender for the best interior in its class.

VERDICT: Bombardier funneled money into this project during the Pandemic as the demand for private jets boomed.

Bombardier Global 7500

FIRST FLIGHT: November 4, 2016

IMPACT: The development program alone for this plane cost more than $1 billion.

VERDICT: The Global 7500 is unbeatable for flying coast to coast. She holds the record with a flight from Van Nuys to Teterboro that clocked in under four hours.

Dassault 6X

FIRST FLIGHT: March 10, 2021

IMPACT: The 6X has a notably efficient new engine—the PW812D—developed by Pratt & Whitney.

VERDICT: This jet’s extra-wide body pairs well with tech developed for military use to create an exciting newcomer on the scene.

Gulfstream GV

FIRST FLIGHT: November 28, 1995

IMPACT: None other than Steve Jobs received this jet as part of his comp package from Apple in 2000.

VERDICT: Popular among celebrities and international businessmen, the long-range GV can fly from Los Angeles to Shanghai.

Lockheed JetStar

FIRST FLIGHT: September 4, 1957

IMPACT: The Lockheed JetStar was literally the first in its class. It was the first business jet to enter dedicated service.

VERDICT: The jet that started it all had a maximum cruising speed of 567 mph—not bad for her relatively hefty 44,500-pound frame.