Back in the 1900s, only the richest families could purchase a private jet. The earliest models cost about $1 million, but thanks to innovators who have successfully remodeled and marketed private jets, business executives and average group travelers can afford to fly privately without straining their budget. What’s more convenient is the added luxury of the cabin features so there’s never a dull moment on a private jet charter.
How did business jets take off to the popularity and success they have today? Here are iconic people and companies who’ve set the standard in private aviation:
Ohain and Whittle
Sir Francis Whittle had a patent for designing the very first private jet in 1930, while Dr. Hans von Ohain was the first to successfully fly a private jet in the same year.
Turbo Props Versus Private Jets
The aviation industry also tested turboprops, which were found to be a better aircraft option for short distances. This type of aircraft is still used today primarily as commuter jets.
Lockheed Corporation
The business jet accommodation was introduced by Lockheed Corporation through the very first business jet, which was called JetStar, with a capacity of 10 passengers and 2 crew members.
William Powell Lear
This man and his team designed the Learjet 23, which took off on October 7, 1963. It was the fastest jet in the 1900s and could seat up to 8 passengers.
Dassault Falcon
Following the Learjet 23’s success was the Mystere 20 by Dassault Falcon, which was showcased in an Audrey Hepburn movie called “How to Steal a Million.” In 2005, Fly-by-Wire business jets became a first for Dassault with the Falcon 7X, which costs around $2.1 billion.
Gulfstream
Gulfstream also took the spotlight in private aviation in 1966 with the Gulfstream II, which has a large cabin that fits up to 19 passengers and has the ability to fly 4,000 miles without refueling. Let’s not forget the G650, which flew around the world in 2008 in only 41 hours, which broke the speed record.
Embraer
Als a big player in the industry, Embraer, which has its headquarters in Brazil, set the record as one of the top manufacturers of private jets. Embraer released the Bandeirante Twin-Turboprop, a light aircraft that can hold up to 21 passengers. This is also a famous transport system for the Brazilian military.
Boeing
Boeing offers a large-cabin private jet called the 747 VIP Private Jet, which was assembled in Kirkland, Washington by Greenpoint Technologies. Originally, it could sit up to 660. However, you can customize the cabin features into a luxury haven like what Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have done to their very own 747 VIP Private Jet.
Cessna
The Citation 500 is a one-of-a-kind offer by Cessna. It was modeled in 1971 and was simpler to fly because of its low cruising speed. Cessna also released theCitation X in 1993, one of the fastest private jets in the world, with a supersonic speed of Mach 0.92. In 1996, Citation XL was introduced, which remains a popular ride among frequent travelers.
In an effort to protect the environment, private jet manufacturers built supersonic private jets that consume biofuels beginning in 2014. The private jets cost $300 million each. However, with the introduction of fractional ownership in the late 1900s and private jet programs by jet providers, riding business and private jets are already budget-friendly for most big companies and group travelers.
Learn more about private jet charters and how you can save time and money for your succeeding trips.
