10 of the Smallest Private Jets in the World
In the world we live in, the maxim “Bigger is Better” is almost universally accepted. But what if we told you that when it comes to private jets, sometimes big things can be found in small packages? As these streamlined silver birds demonstrate, this is not always the case.
Industries have seen trends towards smaller, sleeker styles before. Anyone who is old enough to remember how cellphones were before the iPhone, and especially even further back before flip phones, is aware of what monstrosities they could be in terms of how large, bulky, and completely inconvenient they could be. The same holds true for older portable gaming systems.
In both of these instances, the secret to successful customer service was not to increase the size of the unit itself; rather, it was to increase the number of features offered while simultaneously decreasing the overall footprint of the product. There’s no reason why that shouldn’t be the case with some private jets.
Not all owners of private jets are interested in purchasing something as enormous as a Boeing 747 or an Airbus. A more intimate, luxurious, and ultimately relaxing flying experience can be created with the help of a private jet that is more compact and has a more streamlined design.
It goes without saying that the fact that you are willing to make a reduction in size does not imply that you also wish to reduce the number or quality of other amenities. Both the flight range and the flight speed are still important. If you are going to spend multiple millions of dollars on a private jet, the very least you can expect is to arrive at your destination on time.
These private jets may be some of the smallest available options, but that won’t stop them from making a big splash with customers, which is ultimately what matters most in this industry.
The Robert J. Collier Trophy, which is presented for outstanding contributions to the field of American aeronautics, was won by the Cirrus Vision Aircraft. This jet holds the distinction of being the only single-engine jet to be licenced by the Federal Aviation Administration.
This jet is undoubtedly on the more compact and smaller side, clocking in at just 31 feet in length and standing just a little less than 11 feet tall. This makes it smaller and shorter than the majority of business jets that are currently in use today. In spite of this, its wingspan measures 38 feet and 8 inches.
The Cirrus Vision Jet, despite its diminutive size, excels in the categories that truly matter—namely, speed and range—making it a formidable competitor. The maximum cruising speed the aircraft is capable of reaching is approximately 445 miles per hour, and its range is approximately 1,440 miles.
All of these qualities have contributed to setting it apart from other tiny jets as a prospective solution that is more easily accessible and less expensive.
2. Honda HA-420 HondaJet
There is a good chance that when you think about Honda, the first thing that comes to your mind is not an aircraft. Having said that, the Japanese auto giant established an aircraft production division in 2006, and one of the Honda HA-420 HondaJet is considered to be one of the company’s showpiece products.
The Hondajet generated a sensation almost immediately among those who were influential within the industry. It was included on the “Best of” lists published by Robb Report, Aviation Week & Space Technology, and Popular Science, and it also received the AIAA Foundation Award for Excellence.
The HondaJet has a length of just over 42 feet, can reach top speeds of 483 miles per hour, and has adequate accommodation for two crew members in addition to six passengers.
3. Learjet 45XR
Learjet has been a household name for several decades now, not just in those who work in the sector but also among those who are enthusiastic about private jets. The Learjet 45 has been in production since the middle of the 1990s, and the XR variant was first made available in 2004.
One of the enhancements that were made to the XR model was the installation of a Honeywell TFE731-20BR turbo engine. This engine gives the vehicle the ability to carry a greater load than it could in its original configuration and also allows it to achieve a higher cruising speed, with a maximum of approximately 535 miles per hour.
This particular kind of plane can complete the voyage from Los Angeles to London in a reasonable amount of time. London Air Services has reportedly placed an order for approximately $65 million worth of Learjet XR aircraft.
4. Stratos 714
Although Learjet has been in business for several decades, this particular private jet is one of the newest on this list, having made its first appearance in the year 2016. It is just a hair under 26 feet in length, making it one of the shortest private jets to make it onto our list; however, future models may be significantly longer than this one.
In addition, Stratos Aircraft has disclosed their intentions to enlarge the cabin of the aircraft by 31 inches, which will be accomplished by extending the length of the fuselage. Before it is widely distributed, there is a possibility that its name will be changed. At this time, Stratos Aircraft does not have the financial resources necessary to have it fully approved.
Despite this, the Stratos 714 seems to have a lot of potential, which is particularly impressive for such a small private jet. The highest cruise speed of the Stratos 714 is 460 miles per hour, which is lower than the maximum cruising speed of some of these other planes but is nonetheless amazing given the aircraft’s diminutive size.
5. Beechcraft Premier IA
This aircraft straddles the border between larger business jets and smaller private personal jets. Hawker Beechcraft has been marketing this line of aircraft from its initial presentation in 2001 as “the world’s largest, fastest, and most advanced single-pilot business jet.”
The Beechcraft Premier IA is an enhanced version of the original model, regardless of whether or not it has maintained its status as the premier model after more than twenty years. In 2005, it was awarded FAA certification and boasts advanced avionics technology in addition to an interior layout that maximises passenger space.
The Beechcraft Premier IA has a maximum speed of approximately 526 miles per hour and can comfortably accommodate up to seven passengers. The highest range that it can get is 1645 miles when there are five people inside.
6. A Cessna Citation CJ4, specifically
Cessna, another company with a lengthy history in the private jet market, is responsible for the production of a variety of larger personal and business aircraft. On the other hand, the Citation CJ4 is designed to be utilised solely for private purposes. The Citation 7 made its debut in 2006 and is the seventh aeroplane in the Citation series.
This private plane can accommodate up to nine passengers at a time and only needs one pilot to operate it. In addition to this, it has an impressive maximum range of 2259 miles and a maximum cruising speed of 519 miles per hour.
The wing shape of the CJ4 is swept back, just like the design of other Cessna Citation aircraft. It was temporarily suspended by the FAA in 2011 due to battery difficulties but these have long since been remedied and the CJ4 once more cleared for flying.
7. One Aviation Eclipse 500
While Eclipse Aviation faced liquidation in 2008, several of company assets live on, including the Eclipse 500. Since it was first presented in 2006, hundreds of units have been produced, including an enhanced 550.
The Eclipse 500 measures just over 33 feet long. Add to that the fact that this jet is piloted by a single pilot and can accommodate five passengers and the Eclipse 500 emerges as one of the most intimate private jets on this list. It can feel as if it is a flying sports car, down to the fact that it doesn’t have an onboard lavatory.
Despite its modest size, the Eclipse 500 is capable of reaching a maximum cruising speed of 425 miles per hour. Its diminutive size is clearly reflected a bit more in its limited working range, “only” being able to reach 1295 miles.
8. One Aviation Eclipse 700 “Canada”
The EA700 was a follow-up to the Eclipse 550, the updated version of the Eclipse 500 stated above. It retains a similar style of fuselage, measuring 4 feet 2 inches at its tallest point and 4 feet 8 inches at its widest point.
This model sees a modest increase over its predecessor in terms of speed and range as well. The Eclipse 700 is able to reach a maximum cruising speed of 441 miles per hour and boasts a range of 1611 miles.
In addition, this aircraft is able to take off from runways that are 2400 feet long and land on ones that are 2880 feet long. The EA700 also has a clean, stylish aerodynamic design.
Brazil isn’t necessarily renowned as a private jet powerhouse but Embraer is the third largest builder of civil aircraft in the world after Boeing and Airbus.
Their Phenom 100EV measures just a touch more than 42 feet long with a wingspan just over 400 feet. It holds fewer persons as well with a pilot and six passengers.
While that may be larger than some of the extremely tiny planes on this list, it’s still modest compared to most private aeroplanes. What’s more, while a $4.495 million price tag isn’t “small” by any means, it is less expensive than most other private planes on the market.
The aircraft has a maximum range of 1178 miles. While that may not seem to be much compared to some other ranges on this list, that is still good enough to cover the distance from New York to Miami.
10. Embraer Phenom 300
By contrast, this offering from Embraer is a much larger private jet, measuring just over 52 feet. The company’s Phenom 100EV was first introduced in 2009; since then, more than a hundred have been built.
It also comes up big in its onboard features. It can carry up to nine people, does indeed have an onboard lavatory, and is purported to have more luggage storage space and the largest windows of any jet in its class.
In terms of speed, it has a top speed of 518 miles per hour. It also has a maximum range of 2268 miles, which is good enough to rival some larger luxury jets.
