Private Jets: The Need For Speed

With the demise of the supersonic Concorde, executive travellers seeking to save precious time in flight are increasingly turning to private jets for air travel. Faster than commercial flights, these small and medium-sized private business jets provide speed, full telecommunications capabilities, privacy and comfort.

One of the swiftest of the business jets is the G550 offered by Gulfstream. Introduced in 2003, it flies at speeds of up to 675 miles per hour with seating for eight passengers. It has a flying range of 6,750 nautical miles, the longest range in this class of aircraft. The jet has all the amenities necessary for conducting business while in the air. It comes equipped with a satellite phone system and wireless local network to meet professional communication needs.

The current fastest civilian aircraft is the Cessna Citation X. Flying at maximum speeds of Mach 0.92, this business jet is powered by two Rolls-Royce turbofan engines and boasts a unique wing design. The Citation X breaks away from Cessna's previous Citation series. Not only the wings, but the entire plane was designed from scratch for improved speed and fuel efficiency. This innovatively designed, medium-sized business jet can carry up to 12 passengers. Equipped with state-of-the-art entertainment and communication features, the jet offers executives a high-quality work environment.

The Citation X's speed record may not hold for long, as Gulfstream is developing the G650 with a top speed expected to be Mach 0.925. Not only the proposed fastest, but also one of the most luxurious private jets, the G650 will feature a full kitchen, bar, and high-tech entertainment and communication systems. A larger jet than many of the other business jets, the G650 will have a capacity of 18 passengers. Delivery of this jet is expected in 2012.

The practical speed barrier for private jets may be Mach 1, the speed of sound, as flying faster than this will produce a sonic boom, restricting available flight paths. The Mach measure is the proportion of the velocity of an object to the speed of sound. Concorde, the choice of executives for swift transatlantic flights from the late 1970s to early 2000s, flew at supersonic speeds exceeding Mach 2. The Concorde made routine transatlantic flights from New York to London in about three and a half hours. After its retirement in 2003, executives turned to small, private jets for their travel needs.

An exciting innovation in the world of executive jets is the availability of timeshares for private jet hire as an alternative to purchasing. The cost of these amenity-loaded, super-fast jets exceeds £20 million, so timeshares may be a cost-saving option for many businesses. Several companies offer private jet rentals and plan future upgrades to supersonic planes.