A Look At The Houston Rocket’s Private Jet Fleet

In the dictionary, a rocket is defined as “a cylindrical projectile that can be propelled to a great height or distance by the combustion of its contents, used typically as a firework or signal.” The Houston Rockets are not shaped like a cylinder and are not projectiles. However, these impressive athletes do jump to staggering heights while propelling basketballs from unbelievable distances, so in a way, they are somewhat like rockets.

The Houston Rockets currently stand as number two in the NBA’s Western Conference, and have clinched the playoffs for this year’s season. The team has to travel all around the country to make each game, with 82 total matches to play from October to April. How do they get to each match on time? They use a private jet.

A Look At The New England Patriot’s Private Jet Fleet

The New England Patriots use a fleet of customized Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, known as “AirKraft,” for transporting players and staff to away games.

How the Rockets travel to each game

It’s important to note that this aircraft is not a Business Jet

. Business jets are designed with the sole purpose of flying one or a small number of people in executive layouts. What the Rockets have, however, is a Boeing 767 airliner.

It’s a Boeing 767-322ER, and the aircraft is currently registered as N625HR. This 767 was originally delivered to United Airlines

in 1992, making it nearly 33 years old. It was flown by the following operators before serving the Rockets:

United: 1992-2007, as N650UA.
OceanAir: 2007-2009, as PR-ONB. This aircraft was owned by Synergy Aerospace and leased to OceanAir, a Brazilian carrier.
AeroGal: 2009-2013, as HC-CIJ. This aircraft was taken up by Avianca, who then leased it to the former Ecuadorian flag carrier. The plane was initially registered N287AV, and Avianca never actually flew this jet in its own colors. AeroGal named it Piquero and configured the jet with 210 seats, split between 25 business class and 180 economy seats.
Asia Atlantic Airways: 2013-2018 as HS-AAC. This aircraft flew with 12 business class seats and 240 economy seats until the Thai charter airline went out of business.

In its final years as an airliner, this plane, line number 449, flew with an extremely dense layout that offered a total of 252 seats. But today as N625HR, the onboard experience couldn’t be more different.

Inside of the Houston Rocket’s jet

The Boeing 767 may seem like a huge aircraft considering NBA teams like the Houston Rockets can only contain a maximum of 18 players. However, coaches also need to travel with the team, and NBA teams also include support staff that fly. In total, over 50 people typically fly as part of a single NBA team.

The details of specific private jet interiors are typically kept, well private. However, the Houston Rockets opened up N625HR to the public in 2022 during a charity event, and reporting from Rocket Wire provides an exceptionally deep look at how the Rockets travel.

Photo: Rockets Wire

Inside, the cabin doesn’t look like the 1980s-era airliner that it was designed as. The sidewalls and overhead bins have been refurbished with the Heath Tecna Nu-Look interior. This aftermarket cabin retrofit is inspired by the interior of the Boeing 777 and features a curved design with larger overhead bins and more headroom.

Because basketball players are tall, the old seats from Asia Atlantic wouldn’t cut it. Instead, the entire cabin is largely configured with six-abreast leather recliners. Legroom is limitless, and some seats are arranged to face one another with a wood-finished table in between.

Photo: Rockets Wire

On the sides, sofas can occasionally be found, and the rows of recliners are replaced in some sections by lie-flat seats. Monstrous entertainment screens are available throughout the jet, and this 767 offers a bar onboard in addition to wifi. In addition, this jet also includes a small bedroom.

In total N625HR can carry a maximum of 92 passengers, and is also used to occasionally shuttle the Houston Astros baseball team.

Photo: Rockets Wire

The Boeing 767 on the outside

The livery of N625HR is quite simple. Most of the jet is white, with a series of gold and black stripes running the length of the body. The tail features the same design at the top, and above the stripes in gold paint. The other design element on the tail is a black Houston Rockets logo.

Under the wings are two Pratt & Whitney PW4060 turbofans, a relic of this aircraft’s past with United. Crews are provided by iAero Airways. This plane recently flew on April 5th from Houston Hobby Airport to San Francisco, in time to drop the Rockets off for their match against the Golden State Warriors. After that, N625HR flew to Minneapolis to pick up the Houston Astros after their defeat to the Minnesota Twins.

A Look At The Arizona Cardinal’s Private Jet Fleet

Take a look inside the Arizona Cardinals’ impressive wide-body fleet, where strategy meets luxury in the complex NFL travel operations.

The Houston Rocket’s “other” jets

The 767 is the aircraft that is primarily associated with the Houston Rockets. However, other planes have flown with the same livery, including the tail logo.

N650FJ is a 2015 Gulfstream G650ER

. Unlike the giant Boeing 767 widebody, this aircraft is a comparatively compact business jet, with a bespoke interior and a design three decades younger than the Boeing. Additionally, the G650ER can both outrun and outclimb the 767, while cruising 8,000 ft higher.

Additionally, there used to be a Gulfstream V that also wore this livery. N625TF was manufactured in 1998, and could routinely be seen wearing the aircraft livery of the Houston Rockets. This Gulfstream V was designated as line 547. The aircraft ended up being sold, however, and was reregistered as N256CW in 2023.

It may seem surprising to know that business jets are wearing the Houston Rockets logo. However, what the Rockets and the Gulfstream both have in common is their owner: Tilman Fertitta.

A Look At Michael Jordan’s Luxurious New Gulfstream G650ER Private Jet

Michael Jordan, one of the greatest NBA players of all time, has a new plane. What is it, and what is his example like?

Fertitta is an American billionaire who owns restaurants, casinos, and the Rockets. He has also owned enough private jets throughout his life to fill a small airport. Little is known about how these aircraft are used, and it’s possible that some players on the Rockets may never have even set foot inside the G650ER.

Photo: Ryan Fletcher I Shutterstock

His aircraft all wear the same livery as the 767, however, they sometimes feature the Rockets logo and sometimes do not. Some of these aircraft have not been photographed in years, and as such it’s difficult to truly determine the status of these planes.

Given that Fertitta owns the team, these branded jets are likely to have been used for other activities involving the team. Team-sponsored events, for example, don’t require 50+ people to travel at once, so even if the players aren’t taking the Gulfstream to games, the aircraft is still working for the Rockets. However, for the players themselves, the 767 is the primary mode of transport.

Learn more about the latest happening right now in North America

How other NBA teams travel

In total, it is reported that three other NBA teams own private jets:

Dallas Mavericks: This was one of the first teams to own a private jet, and specifically, a
Boeing 757-200

is used as a team transport.
Los Angeles Lakers: This team is believed to own a
Gulfstream

G550, primarily to transport high-ranking staff and some players, but not as team transport.
Golden State Warriors: The NBA reported that this team has a private aircraft for team transport, though little information is available about this jet.
Additionally, the Cleveland Cavaliers formerly used a Boeing 737-200, but this plane was scrapped 14 years ago and the team now charters their planes.

For the rest of the NBA, a contract with Delta Air Lines

provides 11 Boeing 757-200s. These 11 aircraft are configured with only 72 seats and are some of the oldest in the Delta fleet. In fact, N652DL is the oldest aircraft in the entire Delta fleet, having been delivered in 1989, and these 757s are not even equipped with winglets.

A Delta Air Lines Airbus A321neo on the ground at Boston Logan Airport.

Delta Secures DOT Approval To Upgrade NBA’s Aging Boeing 757 Fleet With Airbus A321neos

Delta may add up to 14 new A321neos for charter services.

The future of NBA transport

The 757s are getting old, so the NBA is planning to replace them. First announced in 2024, Airbus A321neos will begin to serve the NBA within the next few years. These planes will be leased from an Irish firm, SMBC Aviation Capital, and unlike the current arrangement, the new Airbuses will not fly with a Delta livery. Delta will, however, provide the crews for every flight.

For the Mavericks and Rockets meanwhile, their Boeings have life left in them, given that these aircraft don’t fly nearly as often as typical commercial airliners. Eventually, though, the planes will need to be replaced, and it will be interesting to see how they’re replaced.

While Dallas’s 757 could likely be replaced with an equivalently sized Airbus A321neo, the Houston Rockets don’t have as many options. There isn’t another modern plane that is the same size as the 767-300ER, which means that unless the team replaces it with a younger example, they will need to either move down in size or upgrade.

Photo: w_p_o | Shutterstock

For now, N625HR is without a doubt the most impressive team transport in the NBA. With acres of space and more ways to relax than most houses, the Houston Rockets are treated to all the luxuries by their owner, and when the time comes to retire the 767, you can be sure that no expense will be spared to ensure the Rocket continue to fly on the NBA’s best private jet.

Source link