Lear Jet Charter or Sale

The Lear Jet is named for the genius inventor Bill Lear who designed the first Lear Jet. The Lear Jet series are known for their high speed and fighter plane like performance. As a result many air ambulance companies prefer Lear Jets as their platforms. In some models their performance comes at a cost, which is a reduced cabin size and a relatively small flight deck in order to reduce form drag. The Learjet 60 is very commonly found in private business charter with a 60 XR version being the most recent production model. The XR has many improvements which most notably include avionics and the cabin.

Range - 2340 nautical miles

Max Speed- 514 knots

Max Altitude- 51,000 feet

Max Take Off Weight- 23,500 pounds

Max Passengers- 9

Learjet 60 private business jets can be bought new for $13 million and used for as low as $7 million.

Gulfstream Jet for Sale or Charter

Gulfstreams set the standard when it comes to luxury private business jets. The most recent airplane in the series is the Gulfstream V which is some 8 feet longer than the Gulfstream IV.  The Gulfstream V  has it all, speed, range, comfort, and a very impressive presence on the ramp. This private jet is easily identified by its tall landing gear and oval windows coupled with long wings tipped with winglets. 

• Range - 6500 nautical miles
• Max Speed- 501 knots
• Max Altitude- 51,000 feet
• Max Take Off Weight- 89,000 pounds
• Max Passengers- 19

You should be able to find a Gulfstream Jet for sale in the low $20 million range depending on options.

Challenger 601 For Sale or Charter

The Challenger 601 private jet is an improved version of the 600. New engines, improved weight capacity, and the addition of winglets differentiate the Challenger 601 from the 600. If you are interested in buying a Challenger 601 for sale  or for charter the specifications are as follows.

• Range - 3352 nautical miles
• Max Speed- 460 knots
• Max Altitude- 45,000 feet some variants only 41,000 feet
• Max Take Off Weight- 43,100 pounds
• Max Passengers- 19

Value seems to be just above $4 million however that can change significantly based on options and upgrades.

Fractional Jet Ownership

Always wanted to be an owner or part owner of a business jet or just tired of dealing with private jet charter companies but could not afford to own? Well fractional jet ownership may be just the ticket for you. There are many companies that specialize in fractional ownership of luxury jets. The basic idea is similar to a time share where everyone buys shares in an airplane. More shares and you get to utilize the airplane more often in accordance with the agreement.
The great thing about such plans is that usually the fractional ownership company takes care of all the details of owning a jet aircraft. Everything from maintenance, providing pilots and crew, insurance, and stocking the airplanes. Fractional ownership companies find the other owners to split costs with you, completely removing the headache of finding and negotiating a deal with other partners. All you have to do is show up and buckle in similar to executive jet charter services.
Another benefits most fractionals often provide is the option of several different private business jets to choose from. One day you may need to take the Global Express around the world with a large group and the next you might just need to make a short hop with just one other person. Having the right plane for the right mission will save you money and time. Fractional jet ownership has all the pluses of owning your own business jet without all of the traditional drawbacks!

About Very Light Jets and the Eclipse Jet

The term Very Light Jet (VLJ) is relatively new, being coined in the last 10 years. The hype surrounding very light jets was generated by the Eclipse jet. It promised to be revolutionary in its construction performance and most importantly its cost. The concept was simple, a jet carrying 4 people that would sip fuel and be offered for just over 1 million dollars. The secret to their success was the advancement of small jet engine technology and using automotive manufacturing techniques to mass produce the airplane. Promises were made and an aggressive timetable established to entice buyers and the media. Their plan worked, a huge buzz was created and many investors/buyers made down payments on their own Eclipse very light jet. One company, DayJet, created a business plan for a private jet charter service based entirely on the promises of the Eclipse jet. Their order alone was for over 1400 airframes.

Several huge hurdles remained in the path of the Eclipse before is winged its way to success. First and foremost the engines that all the performance and cost saving hinged on were only in early development. Secondly the manufacturing process adopted from the automobile industry, stir friction welding, had never been done or approved for aircraft production. After much competition and some waffling between companies, a choice was made on the engine manufacturer which seemed most likely to deliver. Eclipse aviation also successfully pioneered friction stir welding for aircraft production.

After these initial problems were solved new issues reared up. The avionics suite of the Eclipse jet began to cause significant delays in its development process. As with the other features, Eclipse had made big promises when it came to the instrumentation of the cockpit. They almost had to offer a revolutionary cockpit due to the fact that the jet was intended to be flown by a single pilot. Many of these lone aviators and future owners were moving up from much lower performance propeller driven aircraft. A huge leap forward for any pilot, not to mention that many of these new owners were feared to be amateur weekend warrior types with the cash to buy an aircraft type that previously was way out of their price range. As Eclipse worked out these issues and time passed it became apparent that the engine manufacturer would not be able to deliver. More delays mounted and Eclipse chose to mount a pair of modified Pratt and Whitney engines just to get their dreams off the ground.

In the end after many delays, increased cost, and shortcomings in features, the Eclipse jet flew. Around this time the economy started to falter. Buyers began backing out, most notably DayJet decided to cancel their huge order and turning a profit seemed more elusive to Eclipse Aviation. Buyers began to sue for refunds on their deposits which it seems Eclipse had begun to use just to stay afloat. Desperate measures began to be taken by Eclipse, from laying off half the company to attempting to move production to Russia in a cost saving effort. The writing was on the wall and Eclipse filed chapter 11 and ended up in chapter 7 to the tune of $700 million of debt. 

Eclipse delivered just over 250 airplanes to a mixed reception on the part of owners. Some owners love the airplane and sing its praises while others are fearful to even set foot in one. The jet performance is there and it is said to fly like a little fighter plane. However it is lacking some of the big jet safety features and functionality. 

In conclusion the Eclipse jet is not a luxury private jet and is not going to revolutionize jet charter. It was the first failed attempt that many larger aircraft manufactures have emulated and successfully improved upon. Improved efficiency and reliability of small turbine engines is at the core of the very light jet future. As those engines improve and shrink so too will the very light jet.

Luxury Jets for Rent and Charter

Today anywhere in the world you can rent the best in luxury airplanes. The luxury private jet most associate with wealth and success is the Gulfstream 5. Most easily identified by tall landing gear and oval passenger windows this airplane has beautiful lines. Speed, long range, space, comfort, and amenities have created a strong following in the luxury jet charter market.
If you want to depart New York to have dinner in LA high cruise speeds are a must. Speeds above Mach .80 are common features in many luxury jets. If you have the option of high speed you will want to be able to use it. Everyone knows that a straight line is the shortest distance between points. Unfortunately in the aviation world direct courses between points are rarely possible due to other aircraft in the sky. The best private jets are capable of flying at altitudes in excess of 40,000 feet above most airline traffic, thus allowing direct routing from point A to B. Another plus of an aircraft with a high altitude limit is the ability to be above most weather. Nobody wants to bounce around through turbulence while balancing a cocktail.
Long range could be optional considering where one typically flies. However, the best luxury charter jet in a fleet typically has a range over 5,000 nautical miles (6000 feet versus the standard mile). If you need to go somewhere beyond the range of your aircraft the pilots will be required to stop and fuel one or more times. This can significantly add more time to a trip not to mention cost.
The trends of the interiors of  top private jets is towards greater and greater comfort. customizing the interior of an airplane can do wonders however at some point you will be limited by size. Increased cabin height so your friends over 6 feet tall won't have to stoop and space to stretch out in comfort is a must. With greater size also brings the possibility of staterooms and restrooms that bear no resemblance to an airliner lavatory. Greater size will typically allow the aircraft a greater payload to carry more passengers as well as all the newest electronic goodies for entertainment and work. Consider the space needs of the President of the United States on his 747 or more realistically Donald Trump on his 727.
There are many options available when is comes to luxury jet charters. Weigh the pros and cons of each option carefully as there are few free lunches when it comes to jet options. A trade off is almost always the case with features. In conclusion the one word which sums up luxury jet aircraft is "convenience".