Courtesy Cirrus, Bombardier, Pilatus, Textron Aviation
Technology is disrupting aviation. This past February, Intuitive Machines became the first private company to land on the moon, and Boom Supersonic’s successful test flight of its XB-1 demonstrator last week could eventually make it the first privately funded aircraft to pierce the sound barrier at a cruise speed of Mach 1.7. Boom’s goal is to create the Overture, a supersonic business jet that can accommodate 10 to 20 people.
In a far less public way, business jet manufacturers are using new tech on their latest models to improve range and speed, as well as fuel efficiency, safety, and passenger comfort. They are showing up in areas as diverse as the digital flight control system in the cockpit of the Dassault’s flagship 10X to the Autoland on the Cirrus G2+ Vision Jet, to the custom Nuage seats that Bombardier designed for its Challenger 3500.
We sifted through business aviation’s five categories and chose its most exceptional models, though this list is by no means exhaustive, since the sector continues to create more advanced aircraft each year.
In the meantime, here are our 11 favorites, from new ultra-long-range aircraft to very light jets.
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Fastest Business Jet, Bombardier Global 8000
Image Credit: Bombardier Global 8000 In tests, using sustainable aviation fuel, the Bombardier 8000 broke the sound barrier at Mach 1.015. While the jet probably won’t be supersonic when it reaches the market in 2025, the 8000 will be in the record books for being the fastest civil aircraft since the Concorde. It also has an impressive maximum range of 8,000 nautical miles and a cruising speed of Mach .94. Replacing the Global 7500, the 8000’s 54-foot-long cabin accommodates up to 19 passengers in four configurable living spaces. The appointments include Nuage seats that feature a zero-gravity position, a state-of-the-art entertainment system, including a 55-inch 4K TV, an executive cabin, a well-appointed kitchen, full lavatory and stand-up shower, and more than 30 windows for natural light. All that and the bonus of being able to fly 8,000 miles in any direction, from Los Angeles to Sydney, for instance, or New York to Hong Kong.
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Best Range, Gulfstream G800
Image Credit: Gulfstream G800 The Gulfstream G800 is nicknamed the “time machine” for its speed and comfort. Since its first introduction as the G650 in 2009, this aircraft has had an impressive run that only seems to improve with time. The latest version is powered by two Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines with a maximum range of 8,000 nautical miles and a cruising speed of Mach .925. The cabin has four configurable living areas that sleep up to 10 passengers, but these can also transition to workspaces, entertainment areas, and a large dining area. The G800 has an ultra-galley, optional grand suite with bed and shower, and Jet ConneX Ka-band Wif-Fi. The cockpit features Gulfstream’s Symmetry Flight Deck with 10 touchscreen displays that work with the jet’s Phase-of-Flight Intelligence system. The G800 is expected to enter service later this year.
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Best Wide-Body Cabin, Dassault Falcon 10X
Image Credit: Dassault Aviation This Dassault flagship is big and fast, plsu it combines elegance with intelligence. Powered by two Rolls-Royce Pearl 10X engines, the Dassault Falcon 10X can operate at a maximum speed of Mach .925 and boasts a maximum range of 7,500 nautical miles. Accommodating up to 19 passengers, the newest Falcon has the most spacious interiors available, with a cabin height of 6.8 feet and a width of 9.1 feet, as well as 38 large windows—an industry first. The jet’s living zones are also configurable. They can include an expanded dining/conference area, a stateroom accommodating a queen-sized bed, or a suite with a private shower.
Inspired by Dassault’s fighter jet designs, the Falcon 10X incorporates the latest technology into its advanced avionics systems, including a Digital Flight Control System to assist the pilot in flight and the FalconEye Combined Vision System for enhanced situational awareness. The cockpit’s protection mode stabilizes the aircraft in adverse conditions with a click of a button. The first deliveries of this forward-thinking aircraft are scheduled for 2027.
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Best Updated Super Midsized Jet, Bombardier Challenger 3500
Image Credit: Bombardier Aerospace With its steep approach capabilities, the Bombardier Challenger 3500 can access some of the busiest, most challenging runways in the world, including Aspen, London City, or Lugano. With a landing distance of just 2,364 feet, the Challenger 3500 is powered by two Honeywell HTF7350 turbofans that deliver a maximum cruise speed of Mach .83 and maximum range of 3,400 nautical miles. The 3500 is not just a refresh of the highly popular Challenger 350 it replaced: Its features include the first voice-controlled cabin to manage interior lighting, entertainment systems, and temperature; Nuage seating adopted from the Global 8000; and 34-inch displays and immersive sound for entertainment. There are also haptic touch cabin switches, ka-band Wi-Fi, and 4G ATG internet. These upgrades resulted in a 2022 Red Dot “Best of the Best” Award for the 3500.
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Best Super-Midsize Cabin, Citation Longitude
Image Credit: Textron Aviation The Longitude claims the world’s quietest super-midsize-cabin—in flight, or during takeoff and descent. Its maximum range is 3,500 nautical miles, allowing flight from Chicago to London with up to 12 passengers. Powered by two Honeywell HTF7700L engines capable of 7,776 pounds of thrust, the jet’s maximum speed is 483 knots true airspeed. It has a ceiling of 45,000 feet. In addition to performance, the Longitude is equipped with fully integrated autothrottles and what Cessna describes as the industry’s most advanced onboard diagnostic system that provides answers in real-time on the ground or in the air. Inside the cockpit, the jet utilizes the advanced Garmin G5000 Flight Deck, including synthetic vision technology, four touch-screen controllers, and three large high-resolution displays for enhanced efficiency and pilot comfort. Oh, and it has the longest maintenance intervals in the super midsize segment.
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Most Popular Midsized Jet, Citation Latitude
Image Credit: Textron Aviation The Citation Latitude has earned a loyal following when performance and value become the primary factors for purchase. Since taking its first flight in 2014, the Latitude has been crowned the best-selling midsize business jet, with 369 examples in operation. This aircraft has a range from Los Angeles to New York (maximum of 2,700 nautical miles) and can accommodate up to nine passengers. Twin Pratt & Whitney PW306D1 FADEC-controlled turbofan engines power the aircraft to a maximum 446 knots of true airspeed. Some of this aircraft’s most notable features include the advanced Garmin G5000 avionics suite, Garmin Synthetic Vision System for a VR view of terrain, water, obstacles, and other aircraft, emergency locater transmitter with a navigational interface, and a Central Diagnostic Maintenance System (works with LINXUS) to monitor the jet’s systems in real time.
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Best Midsized Cabin, Embraer Praetor 500
Image Credit: Embraer There is a reason Embraer calls its Praetor 500 the world’s most disruptive and technologically advanced midsize business jet. The next generation of Embraer’s Legacy 450 has a high-speed cruise of Mach .83 and can fly nonstop from Miami to Seattle with its maximum range of 3,340 nautical miles. It’s powered by two Honeywell HTF7500E engines with 6,540 pounds of thrust. Its takeoff distance of 2,842 feet and landing distance of 2,086 feet make the jet accessible to shorter runways. The jet’s flat floor measures six feet tall, and the cabin is the widest in its class, at six feet, 10 inches. Differentiators include a baggage compartment that can store up to nine carry-on bags and is accessible in flight, while the cabin environment is enhanced by HEPA filters and an altitude of 5,800 feet.
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Best Light Jet Stats, HondaJet Echelon
Image Credit: Honda Aircraft Company Sometimes, the comfort of larger jets can be designed into smaller packages. With a scheduled introduction in 2026, HondaJet’s Echelon aims to bring transcontinental range, speed, and more passenger comfort into the LJ category. With seating up to 11 occupants, the HondaJet Echelon will be the first single-pilot light jet capable of transcontinental flight. HondaJet says advanced aviation technology gives pilots access to multiple operational and safety features, including emergency Autoland, autothrottles, autobrake, an advanced steering augmentation system, and a runway overrun awareness and alert system. With a range of 2,625 nautical miles and a speed of 450 knots, the HondaJet Echelon is powered by two Williams International FJ44-4C engines. Three interior layouts will be available: executive, dual club, and divan.
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Best All-Rounder, Pilatus PC24
Image Credit: Pilatus Grass, dirt, gravel, and even snow—the Pilatus PC-24 was made to operate in extremely versatile conditions. This aircraft can accommodate up to six passengers and is certified for single-pilot operation and short runway operations. With a maximum cruise speed of 440 knots and a range of 2,000 nautical miles, the PC-24 is powered by two Williams International FJ44-4A turbofans. Safety features include synthetic vision, autothrottle, graphic flight planning, and a Traffic Collision Avoidance System. In the cabin, an integrated cabin management system with a controller and 3-D moving map is available, with upgrades for audio, lighting, media storage, and multiple ways to connect personal devices inflight. The interior includes a side-facing divan, which passengers can convert into a bed.
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Best VLJ, Embraer Phenom 100EV
Image Credit: Embraer Certified for single-pilot operation, the Embraer Phenom 100EV combines advanced avionics and safety features into one of the greenest, most cost-efficient VLJs currently available. This six-passenger jet is the latest update in the successful Phenom 100 series (the EV stands for Evolution), with more than 400 aircraft in operation worldwide. The technology enhancements in the cockpit include a Garmin Prodigy Touch flight deck, which has FlightStream 510, synthetic vision system, emergency descent mode, stabilized approach, predictive wind shear, automatic 3-D volumetric scanning for lightning and hail protection, and a runway awareness and overrun alert system. This jet has some stats for the passengers, too, including the most complete airstair in the VLJ category, the largest entrance door, and generous storage, including a 60-cubic-foot. baggage hold on the exterior and an internal compartment measuring 10 cubic feet.
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Best Personal Jet, Cirrus G2+ Vision Jet
Image Credit: Cirrus Jet Cirrus G2+ Vision Jet‘s updated design, technological enhancements, and advanced avionics suite distinguish this VLJ in the growing aviation segment. In fact, it was the best-selling business jet in 2023. Up to seven passengers can travel in the Vision Jet’s spacious, pressurized cabin, surrounded by panoramic windows. The plus sign in the aircraft’s name equals a performance upgrade to the Williams FJ33-5A engine that delivers up to 20 percent more thrust. It has a 1,275-nautical-mile range and 305 knots true airspeed. In the cockpit, the aircraft uses the Cirrus Perspective Touch+ by Garmin, which creates an intuitive flight control system and includes auto radar, autothrottle, and more. Some of this aircraft’s safety features are also noteworthy. With the touch of a button during an emergency, this jet becomes an autonomous vehicle with a Safe Return Emergency Land function developed with Garmin. The system can safely land this aircraft without human intervention. For additional safety, the Vision Jet has the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System.
