The world of Private Aviation caters to fliers who heavily rely on flexibility in aspects ranging from the itinerary, comfort, productivity while traveling, the aircraft type, and more. As such, passengers flying on business jets have a range of different aircraft types to choose from depending on the destination and reason for travel, which can cater to the flier’s every need.
Thus, within the private aviation market, fliers can find aircraft of all different sizes and various manufacturers, including Airbus and Boeing, which are two familiar names in the world of commercial aviation. According to Jetex, there are eight categories when it comes to business jets:
|
1. |
Very Light Jets |
2. |
Small Light Jets |
3. |
Super Light Jets |
4. |
Midsize Jets |
|
5. |
Super-Midsize Jets |
6. |
Heavy Jets |
7. |
Ultra-Long-Range Heavy Jets |
8. |
Executive Liners |
This article will discuss seven popular Super-Midsize business jets available in Private Aviation today.
1
The Challenger 350
Bombardier manufactured this aircraft type, which is popular for its ability to fly long-range missions of up to 3,200 nautical miles while delivering luxury onboard.
With the first aircraft of the type delivered in 2014 to NetJets, the Challenger 350 is a super-midsize business jet created by Canadian manufacturer – Bombardier. The aircraft is capable of carrying around 8 passengers (it can vary slightly depending on operator cabin configuration) and can fly non-stop for durations of over seven hours at cruising speeds of up to 540 knots.
The cabin dimensions of the aircraft are as follows:
|
Length |
Width |
Height |
|---|---|---|
|
8.72 m (28.6 ft) |
2.185 m (7.17 ft) |
1.83 m (6 ft) |
The aircraft fuselage sports 12 large windows (six on each side), providing a great view for passengers onboard, while the cabin includes reclinable leather seats, pop-out tables, and a refreshment center.
The type also achieved Transport Canada steep approach certification in 2018, enabling operators to take advantage of the increased versatility and fly the Challenger 350 to airports such as London City Airport (LCY), which not only has a short runway but also a 5.5-degree approach angle.
Bombardier Challenger 350: A Guide To The Super Midsize Private Jet
2
The Citation Longitude
From quiet cabins to flexible cabin designs and configurations, Cessna’s Citation Longitude can accommodate the fliers’ preferences.
Produced by the American manufacturer Cessna, the Citation Longitude can accommodate up to 12 passengers; however, many operators opt to utilize a less-dense configuration capable of carrying around eight or nine passengers, thereby increasing space onboard while also reducing the payload and increasing operational range.
Cessna reports the aircraft’s maximum range (four-seat configuration). The aircraft can fly as far as 3,500 nautical miles. Additionally, the aircraft has a maximum cruising speed of 547 knots and features reduced cabin noise levels and cabin altitude to maximize passenger comfort. Aviation Week Network reports that Citation Longitude has a cabin altitude of 5,950 feet.
While older commercial jets had cabin altitudes of 7,000 to 8,000 feet, newer generation aircraft employing the latest technologies have been able to reduce the cabin altitude further to around 6,000 feet.
The fuselage features 17 large windows, and the cabin has the following dimensions:
|
Length |
Width |
Height |
|---|---|---|
|
8.78 m (28.8 ft) |
1.96 m (6.42 ft) |
1.83 m (6 ft) |
Largest Cessna Jet: 5 Features That Make The Citation Longitude Unique
3
The Falcon 2000 series
While the original Falcon 2000 ended production, Dassault has built other versions, such as the Falcon 2000 LXS, with enhanced capabilities.
Manufactured in Europe by Dassault, data from Guardian Jet shows that the original Falcon 2000 could accommodate up to 12 passengers, fly up to 2,841 nautical miles, and has an operational ceiling of 47,000 feet.
While the original Falcon 2000’s production ended in 2007, Dassault proceeded to create various updated versions of the aircraft, such as:
- Falcon 2000EX
- Falcon 2000EX EASy
- Falcon 2000DX
- Falcon 2000LX
- Falcon 2000S
- Falcon 2000LXS
A Closer Look At the Dassault Falcon 2000 Series
The manufacturer also made military variants, such as the Falcon 2000 MRA/MSA and the Falcon 2000 Albatros.
The LXS model is the latest in line and has an operational range of 4,000 nautical miles, which is a 40.8% increase from the original Falcon 2000. This enables LXS from cities such as New York to fly nonstop to all of North America, most of Europe, and parts of Africa and South America.
The cabin dimensions of the LXS are as follows:
|
Length |
Width |
Height |
|---|---|---|
|
7.98 m |
2.34 m |
1.88 m |
Like the Challenger 350, the LXS is also certified to perform steep approaches into airports such as London City.
4
The G280
The Gulfstream G280 has two living areas, which can be configured to seat up to 10 passengers or enable sleeping areas for up to five passengers.
The Gulfstream G280 has a maximum capacity of 10 passengers, an operational range of 3,600 nautical miles, and a maximum cruise altitude of 45,000 feet. Additionally, the technology onboard enables the aircraft to maintain a cabin altitude as low as 4,800 feet at altitudes of 41,000 feet, delivering a more comfortable experience than that found onboard commercial jets.
The G280 is also certified to perform steep approaches and has an Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS) that enables certified pilots to land without vision in low-visibility conditions, essentially enabling the jet to have greater versatility while also reducing the number of go-arounds it needs to perform. Other advanced technologies, such as 3D terrain display and the integrated Heads-Up Display (HUD) in the cockpit, provide a greater level of situational awareness for pilots, thereby increasing the level of flight safety.
The G280 also boasts a generous cabin space with the following dimensions:
|
Length |
Width |
Height |
|---|---|---|
|
7.87 m |
2.11 m |
1.85 m |
How Did The Gulfstream G280 Become So Popular?
5
The Legacy 500
Produced by the Brazilian manufacturer – Embraer, the Legacy 500 was in production between 2014 and 2020.
While Embraer designed the aircraft to be capable of accommodating up to 12 passengers, most business jet operators have the cabin configured to be more luxurious and typically accommodate around eight passengers. With an operational ceiling of 45,000 feet, a range of 3,125 nautical miles, and a maximum speed of 612 miles per hour, the jet can get the job done.
The higher-than-average speed enabled the jet to set four speed records in 2015:
|
Origin |
Destination |
Distance |
Time |
PAX on board |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Oakland, California |
Lihue, Hawaii |
2,135 nm |
5h 49mins |
6 |
|
Lihue, Hawaii |
Oakland, California |
2,135 nm |
4h 11mins |
6 |
|
Friedrichshafen, Germany |
Bagnor, Maine, US |
3,210 nm |
6h 50mins |
3 |
|
Düsseldorf, Germany |
Dubai, UAE |
3,268 nm |
7h 3mins |
info. not available. |
It is worth noting that Embraer, produced a similar business jet within the same category, called the Embraer Praetor 500, which has a smaller cabin space, but has a higher range of an additional 200 nautical miles.
What’s The Difference Between The Embraer Legacy 500 & Praetor 500?
6
The Citation X+
Another product of Cessna, the Citation X+, is known for its ability to fly fast, and the type holds some speed records to its name as well.
Sporting an incredible aerodynamic design, Cessna‘s Citation X+ is capable of cruising at speeds of Mach 0.935, and in 2014, the jet set speed records on flights flying from Wichita to Seattle to Miami and return, with each leg setting a speed record.
However, the efficient aerodynamic design along with high cruising speed and ability to fly at altitudes as high as 51,000 feet, does trade off cabin space. While the jet can still accommodate around 8 passengers, the cabin dimensions are smaller when compared to other jets on this list.
|
Length |
Width |
Height |
|---|---|---|
|
7.68 m (25.2 ft) |
1.68 m (5.5 ft) |
1.74 m (5.7 ft) |
Nevertheless, the jet still features luxury seating and amenities for those flying onboard the aircraft and can operate up to distances of 3,229 nautical miles.
The Citation X+ is the successor of Cessna’s Citation X model, and according to AvBuyer, the Citation X featured slightly smaller cabins (shorter length), lower range, and cruising speed.
Luxurious Innovation: What Made The Cessna Citation X+ Revolutionary?
7
The Hawker 4000
Hawker as a brand no longer exists as it is now part of Textron Aviation, which is also the parent company of other aircraft manufacturers such as Cessna and Beechcraft.
The Hawker 4000 aircraft was in production between 2001–2013, and the aircraft can accommodate eight passengers and has the operational capability of around 3,700 nautical miles in range, cruising speed of 480 miles per hour, and can fly at altitudes of 45,000 feet.
The aircraft features the following cabin dimensions:
|
Length |
Width |
Height |
|---|---|---|
|
7.62 m (25 ft) |
1.98 m (6.5 ft) |
1.82 m (6 ft) |
According to Air Charter Service, the aircraft type was originally named Hawker Horizon in the early 2000s before being rechristened to the Hawker 4000, and during its production period, a total of 73 examples of the type were produced. The jet is also the first aircraft type in its category to have carbon composite structures within its fuselage, enabling weight reduction and a boost in operational efficiency.
